January 1, US Orders Staff to Evacuate Embassy Amid Military Coup

As the political situation in Niger worsens due to a military coup, the U.S. government is responding by instructing a significant portion of U.S. embassy personnel and their families to exit the country temporarily.

This decision, taken “out of an abundance of caution”, was announced by the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Wednesday evening.

A skeleton crew will continue to operate the embassy, which will remain open but provide only emergency services to U.S. citizens in Niger.

While the majority of those impacted by this order are American citizens, it remains unclear if non-U.S. citizens working for the embassy are also included.

Commercial flight options for their exit are limited, and the specific means and timeline for the staff’s departure are yet to be decided.

This move marks a challenging political juncture for the Biden administration.

Niger, a newly democratic nation and a significant U.S. ally in the war against terror, has a substantial U.S. military presence.

The Biden administration is currently debating whether to formally identify the recent events as a coup, as such a declaration could risk its military aid to Niger, providing an opportunity for Russia to extend its influence in Africa.

The potential fallout of a U.S. diplomatic withdrawal could undercut the administration’s declared support for Niger’s currently ousted President, Mohamed Bazoum.

However, the alternative of keeping diplomats in a potentially dangerous situation might have domestic repercussions for President Biden.

Other nations’ military forces, including France, have already begun evacuating their citizens from Niger due to perceived threats of the ruling junta potentially using foreign nationals as human shields.

Despite these moves, the situation in Niger’s capital, Niamey, is currently relatively stable, but anticipated protests on Thursday have raised concerns.

In a related development, reports indicate that the deputy head of the military junta, Gen. Salifou Mody, is seeking support from the Russian-backed mercenary group, Wagner Group.

This involvement could strain the position of the U.S. military in Niger, particularly since the Pentagon has voiced worries over Wagner’s increasing influence in West African nations such as Mali.

The U.S. military has 1,100 troops stationed primarily at Air Base 101 in Niamey and Air Base 201 at Agadez.

However, the mission of training and advising Niger’s armed forces has largely been suspended post the attempted coup.

At present, American forces remain confined to their bases due to security reasons.

Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder stated that he was not aware of U.S. forces participating in any evacuation operation and emphasized the lack of any “imminent threat” to U.S. personnel or American citizens in the country.

Recently confirmed U.S. ambassador to Niger, Kathleen FitzGibbon, is poised to manage the U.S.-Niger relationship through this period of crisis, according to Miller.

Bottom Line

As the situation continues to evolve, the U.S. government maintains a vigilant watch and advises American citizens in Niger to stay in contact with the embassy.

The State Department’s recent travel alert warned of possible civil unrest due to the ongoing attempts to subvert the constitutional order.

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