Should we worry about French nationals in Niger? Five days after the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, the rag is burning between Niamey and Paris. This Sunday, several rallies in support of the putsch are taking place in the Nigerien capital and the French Embassy has been targeted. The demonstrators demand the departure of the French soldiers and do not hide their hostility towards France. This Monday, the putschists accused France of wanting to “intervene militarily” to restore order in Niger. But despite this highly flammable climate, the French nationals do not seem to be in danger.
However, according to information from Europe 1, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to evacuate the French present in Niger, at any time. The latter are invited not to leave their homes and an almost permanent contact has been maintained with them since the putsch which occurred last Wednesday.
About 600 French people established in Niger
This Monday morning, a message was sent to them to identify the number in Niger. According to a last count, they would be around 600 to live in this country of the Sahel but many of them are not present in the country at the moment because of school holidays.
But as things stand, they do not represent a target for the putschists, according to General Christophe Gomart, former director of French military intelligence. “For the moment, I think they are attacking more the institutional aspect. The demonstrators attacked the French embassy and will undoubtedly attack the French companies established in Niger. But I do not don’t think that nationals are directly threatened,” he said.
Precise safety rules in case of danger
And to list the specific instructions received by French expatriates in the event of a risk to their safety. “There are heads of islands, there are assembly points where nationals meet. So there is this direct possibility of being in a protected military compound with people capable of defending them if necessary. “.
According to information from Europe 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to give the ultimatum issued by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) a chance before deciding on a possible evacuation. Said ultimatum gives the putschists a week to restore constitutional order, claiming not to exclude a “use of force”.