Britain is lowering the variety of workers at its embassy in Niger following final week’s army coup.
It comes after the US ordered the partial evacuation of its diplomatic submit within the nation’s capital Niamey in response to the takeover by the military and the toppling of the democratically elected authorities led by Mohamed Bazoum.
France and Italy have already introduced plans to fly their residents out of Niger.
In an announcement the UK Foreign Office mentioned: “There has been a military takeover in Niger, which has led to protests and unrest.”
With an extra pro-junta demonstration deliberate to mark Niger’s independence from former colonial energy France, it added: “Protests can be violent and the situation could change quickly without warning.”
A earlier rally led to an assault on the French embassy with its doorways set on fireplace and the constructing stoned.
Meanwhile, Niger’s neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso have warned different neighbouring nations in opposition to army intervention in opposition to the mutineers.
The West African regional physique – referred to as ECOWAS – has beforehand threatened using drive if coup leaders in Niger don’t reinstate the nation’s elected president.
But Mali and Burkina Faso, themselves each run by army governments, have mentioned they are going to take into account any direct intervention in Niger as a “declaration of war” in opposition to them.
The two international locations – who’re each at present suspended from ECOWAS – have additionally denounced the regional physique’s financial sanctions in opposition to Niger as “illegal, illegitimate and inhumane” and have refused to use them.
ECOWAS suspended all industrial and monetary transactions between its member states and Niger, in addition to freezing Nigerien belongings held in regional central banks, within the wake of the putsch.
Guinea, one other nation below army rule since 2021, has additionally shared its help of Niger’s junta and urged ECOWAS to “come to its senses”.
Source: information.sky.com”