Niger - Media: US carried out a medical evacuation on a large military transport aircraft out of the capital on July 31, 2023

[sharon sanders]

There is an unstable political situation in Niger so I do not know if this is a real medical evacuation or a general evacuation due to unsafe conditions.

From a Reuters reporter:



Idrees Ali
@idreesali114
·
45m
The United States carried out a medical evacuation flight with a C-17 aircraft from Niamey earlier on Monday, a U.S. official said.​

 

[sharon sanders]

Probably the "medical" evacuation was part of a general evacuation.

Europeans evacuated from Niger as neighboring West African juntas warn against intervention



By Joseph Ataman, Larry Madowo, Caitlin Hu, Shirin Faqiri and Sana Noor Haq, CNN
Published 5:25 AM EDT, Tue August 1, 2023​

France is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Niger after a presidential coup plunged the West African nation into a political crisis that polarized neighboring countries in the region.

The French Foreign Ministry said it would remove French and European citizens on Tuesday due to the “situation in Niamey,” where pro-military supporters rallied outside the French Embassy in the Nigerien capital to demonstrate against the country’s post-colonial influence.

France will prepare the air evacuation of its citizens Niamey in coordination with Nigerien forces, according to a message from the French embassy to French citizens in Niger seen by CNN.

The operation will take place very shortly and will be completed quickly, the message said, taking advantage of the relative calm in Niamey.

more... https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/africa/niger-coup-europe-evacuations-intl/index.html

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[sharon sanders]

Please other Niger threads:


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Niger - Meningitis outbreak ongoing in the Zinder region​

Niger - Polio outbreak 2022 - 2023​

Niger - Measles outbreak 2022 - 2023​

Niger: Bird flu in poultry​

 

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Translation Google

Crisis in Niger: a first French evacuation plane is on its way to Niamey

By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 7 hours ago, updated 15 minutes ago

After the violence against the French embassy in Niamey that emerged following the putsch last week, the Quai d'Orsay announced that it was chartering planes for French and Europeans wishing to leave the country.


France is preparing this Tuesday, August 1 to begin evacuating its nationals to Niger during the day, where a putsch overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum , while Burkina Faso and Mali, neighboring countries also led by soldiers, have put in guard against armed intervention . A first plane took off from Paris on Tuesday at midday, said a source informed of the evacuation operation.

Italy has also announced that it is ready to evacuate by specially chartered plane its nationals from Niamey, some 90 people out of a total of just under 500 Italians in Niger, most of whom are soldiers. Germany, too, advises its nationals to leave Niger.

"Coordination with the Nigerien forces"

Faced with the deterioration of the security situation in Niger, and taking advantage of the relative calm in Niamey, an evacuation operation by air is " under preparation " , wrote the French Embassy on Tuesday in Niger, stressing that it is the subject of “coordination with the Nigerien forces ”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that France could also evacuate “ European nationals who would like to leave the country ”. He justifies this decision by the " violence that took place against our embassy the day before yesterday and the closure of the airspace which leaves our compatriots without the possibility of leaving the country by their own means.".

Some 600 French people are currently in Niger. The French government was unable to say whether the operation would take place over several days, not yet knowing how many nationals wanted to leave the country. The evacuation will take place on a voluntary basis, and via small, unarmed military transport planes. In Niamey, after heavy rains in the morning, activities gradually resumed and few security force vehicles were visible.

Several French people told AFP that they did not want to leave Niger for the moment. “ For now, I stay! », Indicated by message one of them, anonymously because kept silent by the humanitarian organization for which he works.

France as a target

Others, on a one-off mission in Niger, are already packing their bags. Many permanent resident nationals in Niger are also outside the territory, especially those with children, during this school holiday period.

France, a former colonial power in the region and staunch supporter of President Bazoum, who has been detained since July 26 in his presidential residence, appears to be the preferred target of the soldiers who overthrew him, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani.

"Declaration of war"

They accused her on Monday of wanting to " intervene militarily ", which was denied by the head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, who denounced the anti-French slogans which notably flourished during a demonstration in front of the embassy of France in Niamey on Sunday.

Thousands of demonstrators in favor of the military putsch wanted to enter the embassy, ​​before being dispersed by tear gas canisters. The Nigerien putschists claimed that the tear gas fire had left " six injured, treated by hospitals " in the capital.

French President Emmanuel Macron threatened on Sunday to respond “immediately and intractably” to any attack against French nationals and his interests in Niger.

Monday evening, Ouagadougou and Bamako affirmed that any military intervention to restore Mohamed Bazoum would be considered " as a declaration of war " on their two countries and " would lead to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from ECOWAS (Economic Community of West Africa), as well as the adoption of self-defence measures in support of the armed forces and the people of Niger ”.

They added, in a joint statement, that they “ refuse to apply ” the “ illegal, illegitimate and inhuman sanctions against the people and the authorities of Niger ” decided by ECOWAS in Abuja.

Anti-jihadist struggle

This warning comes the day after the threat of the use of " force " made by West African leaders, supported by their Western partners, including France.

On Sunday, ECOWAS leaders meeting in Abuja set a one-week ultimatum to the military junta in Niger for a " full return to constitutional order " , saying they did not rule out a " use of force " if not. was not the case.

They also decided to " suspend all commercial and financial transactions " between its member states and Niger, and to freeze the assets of military officials involved in the coup.

Pressure to push the perpetrators of the July 26 coup to quickly restore " constitutional order is accumulating, coming from all of Niger's Western and African partners ", a country considered essential in the fight against jihadist groups that have been ravaging parts of the Sahel countries for years.

France and the United States, in particular, deploy there respectively 1,500 and 1,100 soldiers who participate in the anti-jihadist fight.

'No risk' for EU uranium supply

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, despite its uranium resources. The European Commission estimated on Tuesday " that there was no risk " for the EU's uranium supply after the putsch in Niger, a country representing a quarter of European supplies, due to stocks already constituted.

Undermined by attacks from groups linked to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, Niger is the third country in the region to suffer a coup since 2020 after Mali and Burkina Faso.

https://www.lefigaro.fr/internation...vont-etre-evacues-tres-prochainement-20230801

 

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OCHA NIGER@OCHA_Niger

Despite the ongoing political situation in #Niger, UN confirm the pursue of its humanitarian assistance, development, and peace programs in the country. UN remain fully committed and engaged to supporting the vulnerable populations of #Niger. #SaveLives

​


https://twitter.com/OCHA_Niger/status/1685052671554682881​

 

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Coup d'etat in Niger: a hundred French nationals wait to be evacuated at Niamey airport

Three planes, including two Airbus A330s each with a capacity of more than 200 passengers, left the south of France for the civilian airfield of Niamey, the state told the press in the afternoon. major of the French armies.

Le Monde with AFP
Posted today at 9:31 a.m., modified at 7:44 p.m.

A hundred French nationals were waiting in front of the Diori-Hamani international airport in Niamey on Tuesday August 1 at the start of the afternoon. The first flights are organized by France to evacuate its nationals, almost a week after the coup in Niger, noted a journalist from Agence France-Presse (AFP).

According to AFP, French nationals are the only travelers at the airport. They arrived in private vehicles, with small bags, as requested by the consulate, which informed them on Tuesday at dawn of the organization of an evacuation based on volunteering. "Given the situation in Niamey, the violence that took place against our embassy the day before yesterday and the closure of airspace which leaves our compatriots without the possibility of leaving the country by their own means, France is preparing the evacuation of its nationals and of European nationals who wish to leave the country” , indicates a press release from the Quai d'Orsay .

Three planes, including two Airbus A330s each with a capacity of more than 200 passengers, left the south of France for the civilian airfield of Niamey, the state told the press in the afternoon. major of the French armies.

A message sent earlier in the day to the French in Niger stated that “this evacuation operation (…) has been coordinated with the Nigerien forces” . The Nigerien police are indeed present at the airport alongside about twenty French soldiers in civilian or military uniform, who specify that boarding will be done as “in a classic airport” .

Some six hundred French people are currently in Niger. Several of them told AFP that they did not want to leave Niger for the time being. Others, on a one-off mission in Niger, are already packing their bags. Many permanent resident nationals in Niger are outside the territory, especially those with children, during this school holiday period.

The French government was unable to say whether the operation would take place over several days, not yet knowing how many nationals wanted to leave the country. As for the French soldiers stationed in Niger, their evacuation "is not on the agenda" , said Tuesday the staff of the armies.
...
The German Foreign Ministry recommended during the day to all its nationals in Niamey – less than a hundred people, who work neither for the embassy nor for the army – to accept the evacuation offer proposed by France . Italy has also announced that it is ready to evacuate, by a specially chartered plane, its nationals from Niamey, some 90 people out of a total of just under 500 Italians living in Niger, most of whom are soldiers.

The United States, of which a thousand soldiers are in the country under the anti-jihadist fight, have not yet taken the decision to evacuate their nationals, the White House said on Tuesday. "We have no indication of direct threats to US citizens or our facilities ," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

...

https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/arti...-evacues-tres-prochainement_6184065_3212.html

 

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Translation Google​

Coup d'etat in Niger: an ECOWAS delegation arrived in the country "to negotiate" with the putschists

Article written byAlice Galopin , Marie-Adélaïde Scigacz
France Televisions

Posted on 02/08/2023 07:36
Update18 seconds ago

Two other planes are currently mobilized to pick up the last passengers, according to the staff of the French armies.

What there is to know

A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is currently in Niger to "negotiate" with the putschists, one of the ECOWAS officials said on Wednesday August 2 at the opening of a meeting of West African Chiefs of Staff to be held until Friday in Abuja. "The President of the ECOWAS Commission would have liked to be here, but as we speak, he is in Niger as part of a high-level delegation led by the former Head of State of Nigeria, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, with a view to negotiating ," said ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs and Security, Abdulfatar Musa. Follow our live.

More than 350 French evacuated. Two planes have already landed in Paris , on the night of Tuesday August 1 to Wednesday August 2, carrying more than 350 French nationals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . Belgian, Indian, Canadian, American, Austrian and German passengers were also evacuated by the French. Two other planes are mobilized, "one of which landed (in Niamey) and the other still in flight" , added at the start of the morning the staff of the French armies. Of the approximately 1,200 French people registered on the consular lists in Niger, 600 nationals would like to return to France.

Italy evacuated around 100 foreign nationals . A hundred foreign nationals residing in Niger arrived in Rome on Wednesday morning, the Italian authorities also announced. "Safe return of 99 passengers, Italians and foreigners, who left Niger" , welcomed the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, on Twitter.

Niamey reopens its land and air borders with five countries . Niger's land and air borders with five neighboring countries have been reopened, nearly a week after they were closed during the coup, one of the putschists told national television on Tuesday. “The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad are reopened” from “from today” , he declared.

...

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/a...is-a-atterri-a-paris-cette-nuit_5985218.html​

 

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Translation Google

Niger: the ultimatum set by ECOWAS has come to an end, the country's airspace is closed "in the face of the threat of intervention"

"Any attempt to violate the airspace" will lead to "an energetic and instantaneous response", warned the putschists, who were summoned by the Economic Community of West African States to restore President Bazoum to his functions, under penalty of using "force".

The World with AFP
Posted today at 01:04, modified at 07:53


The soldiers who took power in Niamey announced, on Sunday evening August 6, the closure of Niger's airspace, a few hours before the expiration of the ultimatum set by the Economic Community of African States of the West (ECOWAS) to restore the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, to his post.

"Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries, Niger's airspace is closed from this day on Sunday (… ) until further notice" , said a press release which specifies that " any attempt to violate the airspace” will lead to “a vigorous and instantaneous response” .

In another press release, the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP, which took power) affirms that a "pre-deployment for the preparation of the intervention has been initiated in two countries of Central Africa" , without specifying which. “Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent ,” he adds.

Niger's land and air borders with five neighboring countries were reopened on August 2, nearly a week after they were closed during the July 26 coup that overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. These countries were Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad.

No will to give way
The ultimatum – it was transmitted on July 30 by ECOWAS to the soldiers who took power and demands that President Bazoum be reinstated in his functions, under penalty of armed intervention – expired at midnight, Niamey time (1 morning hour, Monday, in Paris). But the putschists showed no desire to give way.

The contours of the force to be mobilized for a possible military intervention were "defined" on Friday by the ECOWAS chiefs of staff, and certain armies, such as those of Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, said they ready to participate.

“We condemn the coup attempt in Niger, which constitutes a serious threat to peace and security in the sub-region ,” said Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara on Sunday evening. He deemed it “essential” to “restore constitutional order [in Niamey] ” and to “allow the democratically elected President Bazoum to exercise his functions freely” .

This position is identical to that of France, which said it supported "with firmness and determination" the efforts of ECOWAS, considering that it was about "the future of Niger and the stability of the whole region" . The putschist soldiers denounced military and security cooperation agreements with Paris, which is deploying 1,500 soldiers in Niger for the fight against terrorism, a measure ignored by Paris.

On Sunday evening, nearly 30,000 supporters of the military coup gathered in a stadium in Niamey , Agence France-Presse journalists noted. A delegation of CNSP members arrived at the compound to the cheers of its supporters, many of whom notably displayed Russian flags and portraits of the new leaders.

General Mohamed Toumba, number three of the CNSP, took the floor to denounce those "who lurk in the shadows" and who "are plotting subversion" against "Niger's march forward" . “We are aware of their Machiavellian plan ,” he said.

The Algerian president fears that "the whole Sahel will be set ablaze"

Many residents of Niamey - the capital is a stronghold of the opposition to the ousted president - hoped Sunday not to have to live a military intervention. “If ECOWAS intervenes, it will make the situation even worse. But the people are ready, and the population will support the new leaders, because we want change ,” says Jackou, a textile trader.

The coup was condemned by all of Niger's Western and African partners, but the junta received support from the leaders of Mali and Burkina Faso – the latter also came to power through putsches in 2020 and 2022, and they too are facing jihadist violence - who claim that an intervention in Niger would be a "declaration of war" on their two countries.

In this context of tension, the Quai d'Orsay announced, Sunday evening, to suspend until further notice all aid from Paris for development and budget support to Burkina Faso. France earlier this year withdrew soldiers who were deployed in the country to help fight the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel, at the request of the Burkinabe junta. A large part of these soldiers were sent to Niger.

The prospect of a West African military intervention arouses concern and criticism. On Saturday, senators from Nigeria - an ECOWAS heavyweight country with 215 million inhabitants, which shares a 1,500 kilometer border with Niger - called on President Bola Tinubu to "strengthen the political option and diplomatic” .

Saturday evening, Algeria, a major player in the Sahel, which shares nearly 1,000 kilometers of border with Niger, also expressed reservations. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said on public television that an intervention would be "a direct threat" to his country. “There will be no solution without us ,” he added, fearing that “the whole Sahel will go up in flames” in the event of an intervention.


https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/arti...-a-la-menace-d-intervention_6184661_3212.html

 

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Translation Google

From Mali to Gabon, the contagion of coups in Central and West Africa

A coup attempt is underway on Wednesday in Gabon as a group of soldiers declared an "end to the regime in place" after the re-election of Ali Bongo, whose family has been in power for 55 years. If successful, this putsch would be the eighth since 2020 in Central and West Africa.

Published on :08/30/2023 - 15:33
By : FRANCE 24

If successful, this coup would be the eighth since 2020 in Central and West Africa. Chronology.

2020-2021: double coup in Mali

In August 2020, a group of Malian colonels led by Colonel Assimi Goïta overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta . The coup concludes anti-government protests against deteriorating security, corruption and legislative results.

Under pressure from neighboring countries, the junta agrees to hand over power to a civilian-led interim government to oversee an 18-month transition to democratic elections.

However, in May 2021, the Malian army regained power after the government's decision to withdraw soldiers from certain key positions. Assimi Goïta passes from the title of vice-president of the transition to president. The colonel promises to hold free elections by February 2024.

2021: the army places the Déby heir at the head of Chad
In April 2021, the Chadian army takes power after the death of President Idriss Deby, killed during a visit to troops fighting rebels in the north of the country.

According to the Chadian constitution, the Speaker of Parliament should have become President, but a military council intervenes and dissolves Parliament in the name of stability.

General Mahamat Idriss Déby , President Déby's son, is named interim president and is tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections. In the capital N'Djamena, the unconstitutional transfer of power provokes riots which are bloodily repressed. Since then, the transition has still not been completed and has even been extended.

2021: Alpha Condé pushed to exit in Guinea

In September 2021, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya , commander of the special forces, overthrew President Alpha Condé. A year earlier, the latter had amended the Constitution in order to be able to run for a third term, triggering large-scale demonstrations.

Mamady Doumbouya becomes interim president and in turn promises a transition to democratic elections, this time within three years. ECOWAS, however, rejects this timetable and imposes sanctions on members of the junta and their relatives.

The regime then proposed a new 24-month transition period starting on January 1, 2023, but the opposition refused, pointing to the vagueness of the roadmap for a return to constitutional order. For the moment, the elections are scheduled for the end of December 2024.

2022: double coup in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso experiences two military coups in 2022.

In January, mutinous soldiers led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba arrest President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré and seize power.

On September 30, army officers announced that they had dismissed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba from his post. Captain Ibrahim Traoré then becomes transitional president until a new presidential election scheduled for July 2024.

2023: Mohamed Bazoum overthrown in Niger

On July 26, 2023, members of the presidential guard overthrew the President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum , elected in 2021. General Abdourahamane Tiani , head of the presidential guard, took over.

On August 10, ECOWAS approved the deployment of its "standby force" in order to "restore constitutional order" while continuing to seek a diplomatic solution.

Niger's new strongman proposes a transition period of up to three years before returning power to civilians.

With AFP and Reuters

https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique...ps-de-force-en-afrique-centrale-et-de-l-ouest

 

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 33: 14 - 20 August 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 20 August 2023
...
Niger

Humanitarian Situation

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The humanitarian crisis in Niger has been stirred by
political turmoil, further intensifying the country’s preexisting
complex needs. While Niger grapples with a
challenging political change, its susceptible citizens are
experiencing a complex series of urgent crises.

Following a military coup, Niger is now facing a period
of uncertainty. The shutting of borders by the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the
imposition of economic sanctions by the West African
Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) have brought
a sense of unpredictability to the country.

Amidst this turmoil, over 4.3 million Nigeriens require
urgent humanitarian aid in 2023 alone. Around 3.3 million
people are experiencing severe food insecurity, and an
alarming 7.3 million face the possibility of their conditions
worsening due to the ongoing crisis.

Years of escalating insecurity, climatic shocks, and rising
food prices have already pushed food insecurity in Niger
to unprecedented levels, and the political crisis threatens
to amplify this plight.

In the past five decades, Niger has witnessed a
disheartening deterioration, characterized by a loss of
half its surface water and unyielding desertification that
covers roughly 120,000 hectares of previously productive
land. This trend unfolds in a nation where nearly 90
percent of its populace relies heavily on agriculture and
livestock for sustenance and livelihood.

Suspending trade and closing borders with neighbouring
countries are predicted to worsen shortages in food
supply and escalate the expenses of imported goods.
Consequently, this will impact the prices and demand
for locally-produced cereals. Financial sanctions
are causing economic shocks, particularly affecting
households reliant on remittances and those engaged
in cross-border trade. Additionally, the suspension of
foreign assistance is straining the government’s ability to
support humanitarian and development programs. The
political unrest could also escalate the security situation,
potentially leading to increasing conflicts that result in
the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

In the face of mounting challenges, several humanitarian
organizations have collaborated with the Government of
Niger in support of the response.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Niger’s humanitarian predicament embodies the nation’s
resilience in the face of adversity. The crisis demands
swift action and international solidarity to navigate these
intricate challenges. The response is involving or requiring
strenuous effort, however through continued collective
efforts, Niger can surmount its challenges and pave the
way for a more stable and secure future.


https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/372631/OEW33-1420082023.pdf