Italy also said on Tuesday it would offer a special flight to repatriate its nationals from the capital Niamey. Niger's borders have been closed to commercial flights since military officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum last Wednesday, Reuters reported.
The overthrow of Niger's democratically elected government - the seventh military takeover in less than three years in West and Central Africa - has sent shockwaves across the region, where Niger's Western allies fear losing influence to Russia.
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Germany's foreign ministry on Tuesday advised its citizens in the capital of coup-hit Niger to take up an offer of leaving on French evacuation flights.
ReplyDelete"Our French colleagues have offered, within the limits of available capacity, to take German nationals on board their flights from Niger," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
"The foreign ministry advises ... all German nationals in Niamey to accept the offer." The ministry believes there are fewer than 100 German civilians in the country.
The Spanish government is preparing to evacuate more than 70 Spaniards in Niger by air after the military seized power in West African country, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteA foreign ministry spokesperson declined to provide further details about the operation, such as whether Spain would send its own aircraft, citing security concerns.
The Spanish foreign ministry said embassy staff in Niamey have contacted Spanish residents and visitors there to coordinate the operation.
A French plane is on its way to Niamey airport to evacuate the first French nationals from Niger's capital, a source with knowledge of the evacuation operation has told AFP.
ReplyDeleteThe source did not specify when the plane was expected to return to France.
Diplomatic sources have said French and European nationals wishing to leave the country will be evacuated, on a voluntary basis.
Italy's foreign minister has said the government will arrange a special flight to repatriate its citizens from Niamey.
ReplyDelete"The Italian government has decided to offer our fellow citizens in Niamey the chance to leave the city on a special flight to Italy," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a tweet.
The evacuation of the French military in Niger is not yet on the agenda, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a statement by the army general staff.
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