Wednesday evening, the Quai d’Orsay announced that France had evacuated 736 people, including 498 French nationals, from Niger via three flights, with a fourth flight being prepared.
Following the seizure of power by the National Council for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) on July 26 in Niger, the situation in Niger escalated, leading to protests specifically targeting France. Last Sunday, protesters converged on the French embassy in Niamey, demanding the departure of French nationals. This rising tension resulted in the closure of the airspace, leaving French citizens with no means to leave the country on their own.
Faced with this delicate situation, the Quai d’Orsay made the decision to voluntarily evacuate its nationals and other individuals present in Niger. Three flights were organized to safely transport 736 people, with the majority being French citizens. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this operation was driven solely by the concern for the safety of French nationals.
France demonstrated international cooperation by allowing citizens of other countries, such as Germany, Belgium, and Denmark, to benefit from this evacuation operation as well.
