The United States is preparing to evacuate personnel from the embassy in Niger, according to a report Wednesday.
A final decision has not been made on the policy, but a diplomat familiar with the matter told Politico that the U.S. is “preparing to potentially” remove most staff at the embassy. (RELATED: ‘Confusing At Best’: Retired Colonel Says No One Was In Charge Of Afghanistan Withdrawal)
#BREAKING US is preparing an order to evacuate its embassy personnel from #Niger: politico
— Guy Elster (@guyelster) August 2, 2023
Niger faced a recent military coup on the U.S.-backed government, with General Abdourahamane Tiani, who studied at the Department of Defense-backed College of International Security Affairs, overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Over $500 million has been invested by the United States in training and arming the Nigerian military via information from the U.S. embassy.
Anti-imperialist riots exploding onto the streets of #Niger today as Biden’s grip on Africa loosens even further. The pro-western regime was overthrown by the army yesterday. Today its ruling party buildings are simply going up in smoke. #antireportpic.twitter.com/8T5BnKmHgH
— GhostofDurruti (@DurrutiRiot) July 27, 2023
Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder on Tuesday claimed to have no knowledge of any plan to evacuate and said there was no “immediate threat,” according to Politico.
“Obviously, we’re a planning organization, we’re always going to plan for various contingencies, but we continue to keep a close eye on the situation there,” Ryder said, according to Politico. “We continue to encourage American citizens who are in the country to stay in close contact with our embassy there.”
An evacuation would mark the fifth embassy evacuation since President Joe Biden took office with the first being the evacuation of Afghanistan.