Title: News from Niger: Testimonies of French people who have chosen to stay despite the delicate situation
Introduction :
Since the coup in Niger on July 26, 2023, the political situation in the country has been unstable and worrying. Faced with this situation, the French authorities launched an evacuation operation for their nationals on 1 August. However, some French people have chosen to stay in Niamey despite the tense circumstances. In this article, we present the testimonies of Moumouni Mahamadou and Stéphane Jullien, two French people living in Niger who decided to stay despite the events.
Moumouni Mahamadou’s story:
Moumouni Mahamadou, owner of an establishment in Niamey, explains that he does not feel anxious despite the political situation. He says he has never been bothered since the coup, and his business has remained open, with only curfew restrictions. Moumouni Mahamadou stresses that he has not noticed anything special in Niamey and is confident about his safety and that of his establishment.
Stéphane Jullien and his choice to stay in Niamey:
Stéphane Jullien, elected consular of the French in Niger and head of an import-export company, has also decided not to leave Niamey. He specifies that this evacuation operation is not compulsory but rather a proposal for those who wish to return to France in the face of the uncertainty of the situation. Stéphane Jullien emphasizes that he continues to work and manage his business, not seeing any real problems in his daily life. He believes that any isolated problems will be limited to acts of revenge, but will not pose a generalized threat.
The end of the evacuation operations:
French authorities plan to end evacuation operations in Niger on August 2, 2023. Several planes have been mobilized to repatriate civilians, mainly French people. This massive evacuation organized by Paris testifies to the instability that reigns in the Sahel, where coups d’etat have multiplied in recent years. The violence that occurred in front of the French embassy in Niamey on July 30 also justified this evacuation operation.
Conclusion :
Despite the delicate and unstable situation in Niger, French people have chosen to stay in Niamey, claiming not to feel any real problems in their daily lives. The testimonies of Moumouni Mahamadou and Stéphane Jullien show a certain confidence and serenity in the face of the current situation. It is important to emphasize that each person assesses the risks and decides based on their own perception of the situation