France, Italy and Spain announced evacuations from Niger for their citizens and other European nationals on Tuesday. They are concerned that they risk becoming trapped by a military coup that won backing from three other West African nations also ruled by mutinous soldiers. The evacuations come during a deepening crisis sparked by the coup last week against Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. His apparent overthrow is a blow for Western nations that were working with Niger against West African extremists. They said “any military intervention against Niger will be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali”.

Source: Daily Nation August 02, 2023 06:13 UTC