France expects evacuation from Niger to last at least two days

French citizens in Niger were warned on August 1, 2023, in a message sent by their embassy that they would be airlifted out of Niamey, the country’s capital city, “very soon and over a very short period of time.” 

On August 1, 2023, the French embassy in Niger informed its residents that they would be evacuated by plane from Niamey, the country's capital, "very soon and over a very short period of time." 

According to Franceinfo, the communication stated, "An evacuation operation by air is being prepared from Niamey in response to the deterioration of the security situation in Niger and taking advantage of the relative calm in Niamey." 

Four French Air and Space Force aircraft were stationed in Niger at the time this article was published: 

According to information from flightradar24, the three A330 planes will depart Niamey for Paris (CDG) between 16:10 and 23:55 local time. French soldiers were probably sent to secure the operation using the C-130J. 

According to a French Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, the evacuation effort should go on at least through the evening of August 2, 2023. There are more than a thousand French nationals listed as residents of Niger. However, because of the summer vacations, half are anticipated to be in the nation. France is also anticipated to evacuate other European residents. The ministry was unable to say whether any members of the diplomatic staff were among the evacuated.

Un #Airbus A330-200 (F-UJCU, qui sera converti en #MRTT l'an prochain) et un C-130J (5847). Pas d'#A400M pour l'instant. pic.twitter.com/bczcdbESJb

— Clément Charpentreau (@CCharpentreau) August 1, 2023

In order to support Operation Barkhane, a counterterrorism effort in the Sahel region, France set up a temporary station there in 2013. It is situated on the grounds of Diori Hamani International Airport (NIM) and is known as Air Base 101 Niamey. Since France left Mali in July 2022, Niamey has served as Barkhane's primary centre of operations.

Italy and Spain are also planning to evacuate some of their citizens out of Niger. 

🇳🇪🇫🇷🚨| The first French nationals are welcomed at Niamey airport by French forces.

They are currently being asked to be at the airport by 2pm (local time). At the same time, the first French aircraft (at least one C-130 and one A330) have just landed at Niamey airport.

(h/t… pic.twitter.com/B6lEClT2c1

— Casus Belli (@casusbellii) August 1, 2023

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