Niger crisis deepens as France plans evacuation and coup leaders get support from neighboring juntas
France has announced a planned evacuation from Niger after a military coup there won backing from two other West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers NIAMEY, Niger -- France on Tuesday announced a planned evacuation from Niger after a Military coup there won backing from two other West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers. The French Foreign Ministry in Paris said the evacuation “will happen rapidly.” It gave no other immediate details. The French decision to evacuate comes amid a deepening crisis sparked by the coup last week against Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The West African regional body known as ECOWAS announced travel and economic sanctions against Niger on Sunday and said it would use force if the coup leaders don’t reinstate Bazoum within one week. Bazoum's government was one of the West’s last democratic partners against West African extremists. In a joint statement from Mali and Burkina Faso, their military governments wrote th...