WASHINGTON: The United States has announced the partial evacuation of its embassy staff in Niger following last week’s military coup.
BBC reported that the State Department announcement faded the possibility of international pressure to restore the ousted elected Niger President Mohamed Bazoum.
Meanwhile, foreign nationals have started leaving the country, and the protesters attacked the French embassy on Sunday.
US-Niger ties
Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani, the Coup leader, asked the Western states not to interfere in the internal affairs of Niger.
US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller made it clear that the country’s embassy in Niamey will be open despite the partial evacuation of the staff.
It is to be mentioned that the US is a major donor of humanitarian and security assistance to Niger and had warned that military intervention in Niger could suspend the cooperation between the US and Niger.
Read Also: African Defense Chiefs Express Serious Concern over Niger Coup
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered President Mohamed Bazoum US’s unwavering support and warned those detaining the President that “hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance” was at risk, US media reported on Saturday.
The head of the presidential guards General Abdourahmane Tchiani declared himself as the new leader of Niger. The General said economic woes, insecurity, and corruption led him to seize power in the country.
