8:05am: France to evacuate nationals from Niger ‘very quickly’, embassy says
France is getting ready to evacuate its nationals from Niger following anti-French protests within the wake of final week’s army coup, the French embassy in Niamey has stated.
“In the face of a deteriorating security situation in Niamey (…) an operation of evacuation by air from Niamey is being prepared,” stated a message despatched out by the embassy to French residents.
The evacuations “will take place very soon in a very limited span of time”, the message stated.
1:30am: Burkina Faso, Mali warn towards army intervention in Niger
Junta-led Burkina Faso and Mali warned Monday that any army intervention in Niger to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum can be thought-about a “declaration of war” towards their two international locations.
The warning from Niger‘s military-ruled neighbours got here a day after West African leaders, supported by their Western companions, threatened to use “force” to reinstate the democratically elected Bazoum and slapped monetary sanctions on the putschists.
In a joint assertion, the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali warned that “disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger … could destabilise the entire region”.
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Key occasions in Niger to date
Niger’s elected president Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the military since July 26, within the third coup in as a few years to topple an elected chief within the Sahel.
The head of Niger’s highly effective presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has declared himself the country’s new leader.
Tiani stated the putsch was a response to “the degradation of the security situation” linked to jihadist bloodshed, in addition to corruption and financial woes.
Former colonial ruler France and the European Union have suspended safety cooperation and monetary assist to Niger following the coup, whereas the United States warned that its assist is also at stake.
At an emergency summit on Sunday the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gave Tiani one week to reinstate the nation’s democratically elected president and have threatened to use drive if the calls for aren’t met.
France has denied accusations from Niger’s coup leaders that Paris is plotting to intervene militarily, with Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna telling FRANCE 24 that “France’s only priority is the safety of our nationals”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
