India advises citizens to leave coup-hit Niger as soon as possible

India has issued a travel advisory for its citizens in Niger, urging them to leave the West African country as soon as possible after a military coup toppled the elected government on July 28, 2023. The advisory, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, also advised Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Niger until further notice.

The coup in Niger came just two days before the scheduled inauguration of President-elect Mohamed Bazoum, who won the February 2021 election with 55.75% of the vote. A group of soldiers from the presidential guard stormed the presidential palace in the capital Niamey and detained Bazoum and outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou. The coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, declared himself the head of state and announced the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of all state institutions.

The coup was widely condemned by the international community, including India, which expressed its deep concern over the developments and called for the restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Niger. India also reaffirmed its commitment to support Niger in its fight against terrorism and violent extremism, which have plagued the country for years.

According to the Indian embassy in Niamey, there are about 150 Indian citizens living in Niger, mostly engaged in trading and hospitality sectors. The embassy said it was in touch with the Indian community and was providing them with necessary assistance and guidance. The embassy also advised Indian nationals to register themselves on the Madad portal (https://www.madad.gov.in) and follow its social media accounts for updates.

India and Niger have cordial bilateral relations, which have gained momentum after the opening of resident diplomatic missions in both countries in 2009 and 2011 respectively. India has provided economic and technical assistance to Niger in various sectors, such as health, agriculture, energy, water, and education. India has also extended several lines of credit to Niger for infrastructure development projects. Niger is a part of India's Pan-African e-Network project and a founding member of the International Solar Alliance.

The coup in Niger is the fourth such incident in the Sahel region in less than a year, following similar coups in Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), Burkina Faso (January 2022 and September 2022), and Guinea (September 2021). These coups have raised serious concerns over the stability and security of the region, which is facing multiple challenges from poverty, climate change, and armed groups. India, as a partner and friend of Africa, has been supporting the efforts of the African Union and ECOWAS to resolve the crises peacefully and democratically.

Source: 

(1) Niger 'coup' thwarted days before inauguration - BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56589168.

(2) What caused the coup in Niger? An expert outlines three driving factors. https://theconversation.com/what-caused-the-coup-in-niger-an-expert-outlines-three-driving-factors-210721.

(3) 2021 Nigerien coup d'état attempt - Wikipedia. https://bing.com/search?q=Niger+coup+2021.

(4) Niger government confirms military coup attempt thwarted. https://apnews.com/article/africa-niamey-niger-41a923fe7fde8ff8f24c61c3f749155a.

(5) Niger is the fourth country in the Sahel to experience an anti-Western coup. https://therealnews.com/niger-is-the-fourth-country-in-the-sahel-to-experience-an-anti-western-coup.

(6) India–Niger relations - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93Niger_relations.

(7) Brief on India-Niger Relations Background - Ministry of External Affairs. https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bilateral_Brief-India_Niger_se_2019.pdf.

(8) India - Niger Relations - Ministry of External Affairs. https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Niger_Bilateral_Brief_January_2013.pdf.