French, Other Europeans Evacuate From Niger - 02.08.2023, Sputnik Africa

On Tuesday, France's Foreign Ministry announced that the country would start evacuating its citizens and other European nationals from Niger on August 1, after protests near the French Embassy in country's capital Niamey

It was indicated that the current operation concerns only civilians from France and Europe, while the evacuation of French soldiers from Niger is not on the agenda. The largest French air base in the Sahel is located in Niamey. The size of the French contingent ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 soldiers, according to available figures.

The first of three planes carrying mostly French and Europeans evacuated from Niger landed in Paris on Wednesday morning. Nigerians, Portuguese, Belgians, Ethiopians, and Lebanese were also on board, the French Foreign Ministry told reporters.

Germany also advised its citizens to evacuate on the French planes. In total, about 600 French nationals and fewer than 100 Germans are currently in Niger. The French authorities added that they decided to evacuate Europeans because civilian flights to Niger have been stopped, and that people, even if they wanted to, would not be able to leave the country on their own.

Last Wednesday, members of the Nigerien presidential guard said in a statement broadcast on national television that they had overthrown the president, Mohamed Bazoum, closed the borders, and imposed a curfew in the country "until further notice."

On Sunday, thousands of supporters of the military coup in Niger took to the streets across the country to protest against France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The latter suspended all financial aid to Niger, urging the military to return detained President Bazoum to power and restore order in the country.

Check out Sputnik's photo gallery of French citizens and Europeans waiting to leave the West African nation for their homes.

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French nationals gather as they wait to be airlifted back to France on a French military aircraft, at the international airport in Niamey, Niger, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. The French Foreign Ministry in Paris cited recent violence that targeted the French Embassy as one of the reasons for the evacuation. The decision comes during a deepening crisis sparked by the coup last week against Niger's President, Mohamed Bazoum. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

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Passengers are seen outside the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey on August 1, 2023. French and European citizens were to be evacuated on Tuesday from Niger, six days after a coup toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel and stoked anti-French demonstrations. (Photo by AFP)

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A woman arrives at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy-en-France, near Paris on August 2, 2023, after being evacuated from Niger. The first of three planes carrying mostly French and European people evacuated from Niger landed in Paris early Wednesday. "There are 262 people on board the plane, an Airbus A330, including a dozen babies," French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told AFP before the flight landed at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport. (Photo by Lou Benoist / AFP)

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French soldiers assist mostly French nationals in a bus waiting to be airlifted back to France on a French military aircraft, at the international Airport in Niamey, Niger, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. The French Foreign Ministry in Paris cited recent violence that targeted the French Embassy as one of the reasons for the evacuation. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

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People arrive at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy-en-France, near Paris on August 2, 2023, after being evacuated from Niger. (Photo by Lou Benoist / AFP)

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People arrive at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy-en-France, near Paris on August 2, 2023, after being evacuated from Niger. (Photo by Lou Benoist / AFP)

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This screen grab made from AFPTV video footage shows French, and other European citizens waiting outside the departures terminal of Niamey's Diori-Hamani international airport, following the announcement by French foreign ministry that it was organizing evacuation flights for citizens with three planes already on their way to Niger. French and European citizens were to be evacuated on August 1, 2023 from Niger. (Photo by STRINGER / AFPTV / AFP)

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French nationals gather as they wait to be airlifted back to France on a French military aircraft, at the international Airport in Niamey, Niger, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)