Biden Admin Partially Evacuates Niger Embassy Amid Previous Withdrawal Mishaps.

Evacuation‍ Ordered from U.S. Embassy⁣ in Niger as Military Seizes Power

The United States has taken the precautionary measure of ordering the evacuation of some staff and families from its embassy in​ Niger after military officers seized power there, according to the State Department. However, despite the evacuation, the embassy will remain open and senior⁣ leadership will continue their work from there.

Niger is a crucial Western ally in the fight against Islamist insurgents, and ⁣foreign powers have expressed​ concern over‍ the takeover, fearing it‍ could provide an‌ opportunity for militants to gain ground.

Latest in a Series of ⁢Embassy ​Evacuations

This is not the first embassy evacuation under the Biden administration. President Joe Biden previously ordered the evacuation of⁣ the⁣ U.S. embassy in Afghanistan during his disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, which​ tragically resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service‍ members. Additionally, the United States has also evacuated embassies in Ukraine, Belarus,​ and Sudan during Biden’s presidency.

“Given ongoing developments in Niger and out of an abundance of caution, the Department of State is ordering the temporary departure of non-emergency U.S. government‍ personnel and eligible family members from​ the U.S. Embassy in Niamey,” stated State Department spokesman ⁣Matthew Miller.

Miller emphasized that despite the evacuation, the United States remains committed to its relationship ​with the people of Niger and to Nigerien democracy. The embassy will continue⁤ to provide ⁤limited, ⁢emergency services to U.S. citizens.

A U.S. official, speaking ​anonymously, revealed that U.S. personnel will be transported out ​of Niger via chartered aircraft provided by the ⁤State Department, with no involvement of military aircraft. The official also confirmed that “core” staff will remain at the embassy.

Security Risks and Travel Advisory

The State⁢ Department is advising Americans not to travel to Niger due to the current situation. Meanwhile, France, the United States, ⁣Germany, and Italy, who have troops in Niger for counterinsurgency and ⁣training missions, are ⁣also ⁤evacuating their citizens from the country.

As of now, there have been no announcements ‍regarding the withdrawal of troops. The U.S. ⁣military currently operates from two bases in‌ Niger, with approximately ​1,100 U.S. troops stationed there.

Previous Criticism and⁢ Challenges

The⁢ United States faced criticism for its handling of the evacuation of ⁣U.S. citizens in Sudan after violent clashes ​erupted between​ the ⁣military and the well-armed Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. The U.S. embassy in ‍Khartoum was ⁢evacuated, and operations were suspended due to security risks. However, U.S. citizens encountered difficulties leaving the country amidst the violence, including incidents of​ robbery and looting.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali⁣ and Daphne Psaledakis. Additional ‍reporting by Eric Beech. Editing by​ Lisa Shumaker, Alistair Bell, and Chris Reese.)