“The State Department has ordered US officials on non-emergency duties, as well as eligible family members, to leave the embassy in Niamey,” TASS quoted the message as saying.
The document also notes that after the coup in Niger, the US Embassy temporarily reduced the number of employees, suspended the provision of normal services and is now dedicated solely to emergency support to US citizens.
The State Department, for its part, specified that Washington continues contacts with Niger. Earlier, US senators managed to agree on the candidacy of the US ambassador to this country, who will soon go to Niamey.
Let us remember that last week, the military of an African country attempted a coup: they removed the head of state Mohamed Bazum from power and then created the “National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland”.
Western countries reacted immediately, demanding Bazum’s return. Participants in the ECOWAS emergency summit threatened various measures and announced the imposition of sanctions against Niger.
However, the military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali warned against any foreign interference in the neighboring country and vowed to take decisive action to support the Nigerien people and armed forces. After that, European countries began to prepare for the evacuation of their citizens.
