The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Thursday, that it has "completed the evacuation of hundreds of French and European citizens from Niger after the military council ousted the democratically elected government in the country last week." It mentioned in a post on X platform that "a total of 1,079 people were evacuated, including 577 French citizens."
The French Foreign Ministry indicated that "France has requested the Nigerien security forces to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic missions in Niamey, especially those belonging to France, during the planned protests today." The ministry stated: "While several calls for protests are being made on August 3, France reminds that the security of diplomatic premises and staff is an obligation under international law, particularly the Vienna Convention."
The first two planes, carrying French and European citizens evacuated by France from Niger, arrived in Paris yesterday, Wednesday.
In a related note, the British Foreign Ministry stated that "the British Embassy in Niamey will temporarily reduce the number of staff due to the security situation." The ministry added: "There is a military coup in Niger leading to protests and unrest," noting that "the group that organized the demonstration on July 30 has called for another one today, which coincides with Niger's Independence Day. The protests may witness acts of violence, and the situation could change rapidly without warning."
