First group of British nationals go away Niger after coup
T
he first group of British nationals has safely left Niger following a army coup within the African state, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated.
He is in neighbouring Nigeria, the place he has simply met that nation’s president, and has additionally additionally spoken to the president of Ghana this week.
“The UK Government’s priority remains the safety of British nationals and helping them out of the country to safety,” Mr Cleverly stated.
The group of UK residents left Niger on a French flight on Wednesday night. The Foreign Office stated there’s a crew in Paris able to assist them on touchdown.
A spokesperson stated: “The UK’s Ambassador and a core team remain in Niger to support the very small number of British nationals who are still there. We are grateful to the French for their help in this evacuation.”
The French flight evacuated British nationals who have been capable of make their technique to the airport in time.
Violence has damaged out within the west African nation after troopers detained President Mohamed Bazoum and seized energy final week.
Mr Cleverly is presently on a three-country, four-day tour in Africa. He has already visited Ghana and Nigeria and can go to Zambia on Thursday.
Niger, a French colony till 1960, had been seen as one of many area’s final democracies and a associate Western international locations might work with to beat again the jihadi violence that has wracked the Sahel area.
On Sunday, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated it will use pressure until the president was launched and reinstated inside per week.
But juntas in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, additionally former French colonies, warned any forcible intervention could be seen as a declaration of warfare.
Mr Bazoum was democratically elected two years in the past in Niger’s first peaceable switch of energy since independence from France.
Russian mercenary group Wagner is working in Mali, and Vladimir Putin want to develop his nation’s affect within the area.
Labour had earlier known as for the UK to hitch different European international locations in evacuating its residents from Niger following the army coup.
France, Germany and Italy have all introduced plans to evacuate their residents. The Foreign Office beforehand informed British nationals to remain inside.
Shadow international secretary David Lammy stated: “The situation in Niger is deteriorating rapidly following the recent coup, while the closure of Niger’s airspace is preventing British nationals from leaving by their own means.
“British nationals who want to get out of the country should now be supported by the Government to evacuate.”
Foreign nationals waited on Wednesday outdoors an airport within the capital, Niamey, for a French army evacuation flight whereas a regional bloc continued talks about its response to the junta.
Meanwhile Italian nationals and different European and American residents, who’ve been evacuated from Niger, arrived at Ciampino Airport, close to Rome on Tuesday.