First UK nationals evacuated from Niger after army coup as new warfare feared

The first group of UK nationals have left Niger within the wake of a army coup within the African nation, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has introduced.

The Britons boarded a French flight on Wednesday night and had been supported by a workforce in Paris upon touchdown, the Foreign Office mentioned.

France, Italy and Spain are additionally continuing to evacuate their residents from the African nation, the place soldiers seized power last week and detained President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected two years in the past.

Taking to Twitter, Mr Cleverly, who’s enterprise a four-day journey to Africa, wrote: “The first group of British nationals have now safely left Niger.

“To resolve the scenario in Niger, the UK is evident in our help of an African and ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] led decision.

“This week I’ve spoken with the Presidents of Ghana and Nigeria to support this.”

In a video shared alongside this message, Mr Cleverly mentioned throughout his conferences with Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu he mentioned the scenario in Niger.

He added: “The UK Government’s priority remains the safety of British nationals and helping them get out of the country to safety.”

The UK’s Ambassador to Niger and a core workforce of the Foreign Office will stay within the nation in the meanwhile to help the Britons who’re nonetheless there.

During his journey, Mr Cleverly has already visited Ghana and Nigeria and can go to Zambia on Thursday (August 3).

The army coup on July 26 could mark an abrupt finish to Mr Bazoum’s imaginative and prescient for Niger’s future, which included ladies’ schooling and the discount of the nation’s birthrate.

The stability of the area now hangs in stability as ECOWAS have issued an ultimatum to the brand new army junta, saying they’ll both restore the democratic chief of Niger by August 6 or face penalties, together with a potential army motion.

But this risk prompted Niger’s neighbouring international locations of Mali and Burkina Faso to react with a joint assertion.

The nations claimed any army motion towards the brand new management in Niger can be a “declaration of war” towards them.