United States evacuates embassy personnel from Niger

Following the removal of Niger’s elected leader, Washington joins a growing number of countries that have evacuated their citizens.

The US State Department has announced a partial withdrawal of diplomatic personnel stationed in Niger, amid persistent unrest in the African country following a recent coup.

On Wednesday, officials announced that non-emergency workers and family members had been asked to evacuate the US Embassy in Niamey. They stated that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” due to “ongoing developments in Niger.”

“The United States rejects all efforts to overturn Niger’s constitutional order, and stands with the people of Niger,” the State Department said in a press release, alluding to the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum by opposition forces last week.

A number of other Western countries have declared their own evacuations, with France announcing that it would assist in the removal of its residents and those from other EU countries on Tuesday. Italy, Spain, and Germany have all issued expulsion letters, warning of a deteriorating security situation in the aftermath of the coup.

Despite Washington’s refusal to call the rapid transfer of power a “coup,” US authorities continue to recognise Bazoum as Niger’s lawful leader. Later that day, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he spoke with the deposed president and called for the “restoration of the democratically-elected government.”

On July 26, senior military officer Abdourahamane Tchiani declared himself the head of a new junta, sealing Niger’s borders, suspending several government institutions, and instituting a curfew.

The West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has criticised the coup and imposed a seven-day deadline for the junta to reinstall Bazoum. If its demands are not met, the body has warned to “take all necessary measures to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” including the use of force.

Mali and Burkina Faso, two of Niger’s neighbours, have warned that any military action by ECOWAS would “amount to a declaration of war” on their own countries. They have pledged to leave the bloc and “adopt self-defense measures in support of the armed forces and the people of Niger” if the regional powers engage in military action.