Successful evacuation: French and European nationals safe after the coup in Niger
The evacuation of French and European nationals from Niger has just been successfully completed. This was announced by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, on the social network X. In total, 1,079 people were evacuated, including 577 French nationals and many other nationalities.
This evacuation operation was launched in response to the coup that occurred in Niger on July 26, 2023 and the violence that erupted during a demonstration in front of the country’s embassy in Niamey on July 30. The French authorities chartered five planes to carry out this operation, which took place on a voluntary basis. Around 600 French people expressed their wish to leave, while other European nationals also benefited from this evacuation.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the end of evacuation operations and stressed that the security of nationals and diplomatic personnel is an obligation under international law. France also firmly condemns the violence committed against its embassy in Niger and recalls that the security of embassies is an absolute priority.
However, General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP) in Niger, declared that foreign nationals present on Nigerien soil have never been threatened and that they have no objective reason to leave the country. These statements raised questions about whether the evacuation was really necessary.
Regardless, the evacuation of French and European nationals from Niger was carried out successfully, guaranteeing their safety in a context of political crisis and violence. This operation underlines the importance of protecting citizens abroad and the ability of French authorities to intervene quickly and effectively in such situations.