The first group of British nationals has safely left Niger following a military coup in the African state, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.
He is in neighbouring Nigeria, where he has just met that country’s president, and has also also spoken to the president of Ghana this week.
“The UK Government’s priority remains the safety of British nationals and helping them out of the country to safety,” Mr Cleverly said.
The group of UK citizens left Niger on a French flight on Wednesday evening. The Foreign Office said there is a team in Paris ready to support them on landing.
A spokesperson said: “The UK’s Ambassador and a core team remain in Niger to support the very small number of British nationals who are still there. We are grateful to the French for their help in this evacuation.”
The French flight evacuated British nationals who were able to make their way to the airport in time.
Violence has broken out in the west African country after soldiers detained President Mohamed Bazoum and seized power last week.
The first group of British nationals have now safely left Niger.
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) August 2, 2023
To resolve the situation in Niger, the UK is clear in our support of an African and ECOWAS led resolution.
This week I’ve spoken with the Presidents of Ghana and Nigeria to support this.
pic.twitter.com/bqlqBmEyrn
Mr Cleverly is currently on a three-country, four-day tour in Africa. He has already visited Ghana and Nigeria and will visit Zambia on Thursday.
Niger, a French colony until 1960, had been seen as one of the region’s last democracies and a partner Western countries could work with to beat back the jihadi violence that has wracked the Sahel region.
On Sunday, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it would use force unless the president was released and reinstated within a week.
But juntas in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, also former French colonies, warned any forcible intervention would be seen as a declaration of war.
Mr Bazoum was democratically elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful transfer of power since independence from France.
Russian mercenary group Wagner is operating in Mali, and Vladimir Putin would like to expand his country’s influence in the region.
Labour had earlier called for the UK to join other European countries in evacuating its citizens from Niger following the military coup.
France, Germany and Italy have all announced plans to evacuate their citizens. The Foreign Office previously told British nationals to stay inside.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: “The situation in Niger is deteriorating rapidly following the recent coup, while the closure of Niger’s airspace is preventing British nationals from leaving by their own means.
“British nationals who want to get out of the country should now be supported by the Government to evacuate.”
Foreign nationals waited on Wednesday outside an airport in the capital, Niamey, for a French military evacuation flight while a regional bloc continued talks about its response to the junta.
Meanwhile Italian nationals and other European and American citizens, who have been evacuated from Niger, arrived at Ciampino Airport, near Rome on Tuesday.
