The evacuation of French soldiers stationed in Niger “is not on the agenda”, the General Staff of the Armies said on Tuesday, as France began its operations to evacuate its nationals from the country. days after a military coup.
The evacuation operation concerns civilians, French and European nationals, to ensure their safety after last week’s coup, he told reporters, adding that three planes – Airbus A330s and A330s MRTT – had already left from the south of France, for the civil airfield of Niamey.
A coup in Niger, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum last week. General Tiani justified this putsch by “the deterioration of the security situation” in a country undermined by the violence of jihadist groups. Thousands of pro-coup demonstrators then gathered outside the French embassy in Niamey on Sunday, brandishing violent slogans and trying to enter the building. They had to be dispersed by tear gas canisters.
France, a former colonial power in the region and an unfailing supporter of President Bazoum, appears to be the privileged target of the soldiers who overthrew him. The French General Staff of the Armed Forces assured that this evacuation operation had been motivated by the events which occurred on Sunday in Niamey.
