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The US is partially evacuating its embassy in Niger, after a military junta seized power in the west African nation last week and some neighbouring countries warned that they may use force unless constitutional order is restored.
The state department on Wednesday ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and family members, a move that may signal a deterioration of the security situation. It highlights the challenges facing Washington as it responds to the military takeover in a country that has been an important regional partner for the US.
“Given ongoing developments in Niger and out of an abundance of caution, the Department of State is ordering the temporary departure of non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from the US embassy in Niamey,” state department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
The embassy remains open for limited emergency services for US citizens, Miller added. Kathleen FitzGibbon, the US ambassador to Niger, was recently confirmed and is set to arrive in the country soon.
France has already begun efforts to voluntarily evacuate French and European citizens who wish to leave the country.
Mohamed Bazoum, regarded as the west’s staunchest ally in the Sahel region, was overthrown as president last Wednesday, bringing further instability to the troubled region after military coups in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years.
Over the weekend, a group of west African leaders led by Nigerian president Bola Tinubu threatened to take military action against the new junta in Niger if it did not restore the toppled democratic government within seven days. The US, France, EU and Britain condemned the coup and suspended aid to the country.
Defence chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States began a two-day meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Wednesday as a delegation from the regional bloc travelled to Niamey as part of efforts to mediate a solution to the crisis. Nigeria also moved to increase the pressure on the Niger junta by cutting off electricity to a country where it supplies more than 70 per cent of the power.
Washington has yet to declare the events in Niger a coup, as doing so would end US security assistance to a country that Washington sees as important for fighting terrorism and pushing back against Russia’s influence in Africa.
There are about 1,100 US troops in Niger and the Pentagon is not planning to remove them. The US has suspended security co-operation since last week’s coup.
On Wednesday, the state department posted a link on Twitter to collect information from American citizens who wish to leave Niger and need assistance in doing so.
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