United States Department of State

By Gary Raynaldo    -DIPLOMATIC   TIMES

WASHINGTON    DC  –  The Department of State is ordering the temporary evacuation of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from the U.S. Embassy in Niger’s capital city Niamey.  State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Wednesday the ordered departure was made  “given ongoing developments in Niger and out of an abundance of caution.”  The U.S. Embassy remains open for limited, emergency services to U.S. citizens, he said.  

“The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, including U.S. government personnel serving abroad. The United States remains committed to our relationship with the people of Niger and to Nigerien democracy.  We remain diplomatically engaged at the highest levels.”

–State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller

On July 28, the head of Niger’s presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, declared himself head of state after the military seized power.  The coup leaders have detained Niger’s elected president Mohamed Bazoum in the country’s capital city Niamey.  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened military action against Niger’s coup leaders if they fail to return the country’s ousted president to power. ECOWAS leaders met in an extraordinary summit Sunday and gave the putschists seven days to reinstate Bazoum.  ECOWAS also imposed multiple punitive measures, including closing land and air borders with Niger. 

“The United States rejects all efforts to overturn Niger’s constitutional order, and stands with the people of Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, and other international partners in support of democratic governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights.”  – State Department spokesperson Miller added. 

The Embassy is advising U.S. citizens in Niger to limit unnecessary movements around Niamey.