Headline: European Militaries Evacuating Foreign Nationals from Niger Amid Rising Concerns of Violence and Hostage Situations
In recent developments, European militaries, including the French armed forces, have initiated emergency evacuations of foreign nationals from Niger, citing mounting fears of potential violence and hostage situations. The ruling junta in Niger has raised alarm as intelligence reports suggest they may resort to taking foreigners hostage and deploying them as human shields in the event of a military intervention.
In line with these concerns, the potential ordered departure of U.S. embassy personnel, although not encompassing all staff, is expected to prioritize individuals who are not crucial to critical embassy functions. The U.S. Agency for International Development has already evacuated 20 of its staffers from Niger, underlining the gravity of the situation.
To address escalating worries, U.S. officials have reached out to American extraction specialist, Robert Stryk, seeking assistance in safely relocating U.S. citizens out of Niger. Stryk has been liaising with governments of France, Britain, and Italy to devise plans for moving U.S. officials to a nearby secure location. While the U.S. State Department aims to maintain embassy operations, it is yet to announce any formal evacuation plans.
As of now, the situation appears stable in Niger’s capital city, Niamey, although protests are anticipated on Thursday. Adding to the complexity, Gen. Salifou Mody, deputy head of the ruling junta, is reportedly en route to Mali to seek support from Russian-backed mercenary group, Wagner. This potential involvement of Wagner forces could further complicate matters for the U.S. military, as concerns have been raised about the group’s activities in other West African nations.
Presently, the U.S. military has approximately 1,100 troops stationed in Niger, primarily at Air Base 101 in Niamey and Air Base 201 at Agadez. However, due to force protection reasons, most American troops have been confined to their bases. While there are no immediate plans for U.S. forces to participate in an evacuation operation, the Pentagon emphasizes that American citizens in Niger should remain in close contact with the U.S. embassy for updates and guidance.
Amidst these rising tensions, the worry of potential violence and hostage situations looms large. Foreign nations are taking proactive measures to safeguard their citizens while keeping a close eye on the unfolding events in Niger’s political landscape. Hollywood Crap will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
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