NIAMEY: Six days after the Niger coup that ousted one of the last pro-Western leaders in the militant-ridden Sahel region, France prepared to evacuate Europeans and French from Niger.
On July 26 last, President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by his own guard, marking the third coup in the Sahel in as many years, following similar incidents in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.
The situation escalated when hostile crowds gathered outside the French embassy, and Niger accused France of plotting military intervention. In response, Paris announced its intention to withdraw its citizens and offered to evacuate other Europeans as well. An evacuation operation by air is being prepared in Niamey due to the deteriorating security situation. Approximately 600 French nationals are in Niger, excluding tourists and French residents outside the country.
Responding to the coup, the West African bloc ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on Niger and warned of the potential use of force, demanding the coup leaders reinstate Bazoum.
Niger Coup and Western Concerns
The coup has raised concerns among Western nations struggling to combat the militant insurgency that has spread across the Sahel region, affecting countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. France, which once had around 5,400 troops in its anti-militant Barkhane mission, had to shift its focus to Niger after disagreements with the juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso. The reconfigured French force now comprises about 1,500 personnel deployed near Niamey. Meanwhile, the United States maintains around 1,100 personnel with an important air base in Niger.
The political unrest and military interventions have also resulted in demonstrations with strident anti-French and pro-Russian sentiments. Mali, in particular, has fostered close ties with Moscow, receiving Russian military equipment and paramilitaries, which Western nations claim are Wagner mercenaries. Supporters of the junta argue that France has failed to protect them from militants, leading them to seek stronger alliances with Russia.
