France again condemns in the strongest terms the violence committed against its embassy in Niger on Sunday 30 July by organized and well-equipped groups.
With several calls for demonstrations on 3 August having been issued, France recalls that the security of its premises and of diplomatic staff are obligations under international law, and particularly the Vienna Conventions.
France has asked Niger’s security forces to take the necessary measures to ensure that the security of foreign diplomatic premises in Niamey, particularly those of France, will be fully guaranteed.
Niger/ France: Joint communique issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for the Armed Forces (August, 3 2023)
Paris, 3 August 2023
In the context of violence against the French Embassy and the closure of Niger’s airspace, at President Macron’s request the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for the Armed Forces launched an operation to evacuate French and foreign nationals who wished to leave the country.
On Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 August, our embassy in Niamey, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre and the Ministry for the Armed Forces’ Planning and Conduct of Operations Centre evacuated a total of 1,079 people, including 577 French nationals. This evacuation operation was led by French military aircraft.
France also evacuated nationals from 50 other countries, particularly in Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Romania, Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Georgia and the United Kingdom), Africa (Benin, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Chad, Congo, Ethiopia, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Mauritania, Togo and Tunisia), America (the United States, Canada, Brazil, Colombia and the Bahamas), Asia (India, Japan, Vietnam and South Korea), Oceania (Australia) and the Middle East (Lebanon and Turkey).
The Ministry of the Interior and Overseas France also contributed to this operation, through the work of emergency services doctors, who provided medical assistance on one flight, and the Ministry of Health, which was involved in dealing with medical cases on arrival.
In a spirit of European solidarity and with the aim of offering European countries the possibility of enabling those of their nationals who so wished to benefit from the flights it put on, France took the initiative of activating the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism (EU CPM). From the outset it included European nationals in the planning of evacuation operations.
To coordinate the operation, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre, which set up a crisis unit on Sunday 30 July, has been in permanent contact with our nationals on the ground and with all our partners. Our armed forces’ military assets, mobilized to ensure the safety of nationals, also helped make these evacuations a success.
Source – French Government
Q&A: Niger (August 2, 2023)
Paris, 3 August 2023
Q- Regarding the French citizens who have chosen not to leave Niger, has France been assured by the coup leaders that their safety is guaranteed?
A- Our citizens’ safety in Niger is our top priority. That is why we decided, as was stated by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, to begin an operation to allow those French and European nationals who wish to leave the country to take flights that we have provided for them. To date, over 350 of these nationals have been evacuated on the first two flights.
Local commitments have been made to ensure that the evacuations take place under proper conditions.
Regarding our compatriots who have decided to remain in the country, our embassy continues to work in Niger and to mobilize its efforts to ensure their safety.
Q- To what degree are you coordinating with the U.S., given that they also have armed forces there?
A- We are working together very closely with the U.S. and our other partners, especially our European partners.
Q- Were French nationals able to obtain spots on the Italian flight, thanks to a reciprocity-type arrangement between Italy and France?
A- There were no French nationals on the Italian flight, however, there is of course mutual solidarity among Member States. We have an excellent partnership with the Italians on these matters. The Minister has spoken several times with her counterpart, Mr. Tajani.
Q- Is a French representative attending the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff meeting that is taking place in Abuja through this coming Friday?
A- As France is not a member of ECOWAS, of course we do not have a representative attending the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff meeting, which began today in Abuja, Nigeria.
Source – French Government