US orders evacuation of some embassy staff, families from Niger

The United States has joined the list of countries who have issued orders to evacuate their citizens from Niger. It has ordered all non-emergency government personnel to temporarily evacuate its embassy in Niger, as the country weathers the aftershocks of a July coup. In a statement yesterday, US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller explained that the measure was taken “out of an abundance of caution” and that the embassy itself would remain open, though only for “limited, emergency services”. Miller said that the US is “diplomatically engaged at the highest levels”, adding that the embassy remained open for limited, emergency services to US citizens. The Secretary of state ,Antony Blinken, has also said that the White House was committed to restore the stricken country’s government. Niger is a key western ally in the fight against Islamist insurgents in the region. Foreign powers have condemned the takeover, fearing it could allow the militants to gain ground. #Nigercoup #Coupinniger #Mohammedbazoumniger ~HT.98~PR.153~ED.155~