Lebanese Among Evacuated: Two French Aircraft Land in Paris Bringing Citizens Back from Niger

The first two aircraft carrying French and European citizens evacuated by France from Niger arrived in Paris today, Wednesday, according to reporters from Reuters at the airport. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told AFP that "the first French plane left Niger yesterday, Tuesday, and arrived in Paris this morning, with 262 people on board, including dozens of children." In addition to a large number of French citizens, the plane also carried Lebanese, Nigerians, Portuguese, Belgian, and Ethiopian nationals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aircraft chartered by France departed Niger yesterday to evacuate French and European citizens who expressed a desire to leave the country after military forces overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26. According to the French Foreign Ministry's website, evacuation operations will continue on Wednesday as the ministry urged French citizens to head to the international airport in Niger's capital, Niamey.