Members of the Niger junta are said to be evacuating their families to Burkina Faso and Dubai in anticipation of an impending invasion by soldiers from the Economic Community of West African States.
This was apparently conducted a few days ago at the country’s Agadez Airport, and it involved Gulfstream G550 jets.
A source familiar with the move said, “On the night of Friday, 11th to Saturday 12th of August 2023, the Nigerien junta, under the command of General Tchiani, evacuated all the putschists’ families. Indeed, several Gulfstream G550 type aircraft (in particular flight No. BFY824R) took off from Agadez Airport to Burkina Faso and Dubai with their women and children on board.”
According to the source, “General Tchiani appears to have had intelligence of an imminent attack by ECOWAS. He protects his family and leaves Nigerien people behind to a certain death. While he shelters his family, Tchiani is ready to send soldiers into a fratricidal war.
“Like any selfish and totalitarian putschist, he already uses state finances for personal purposes. It is at the expense of the Nigerien state that he sends his family to live richly under the Dubai sun. The junta does not hesitate a moment to set ablaze Niger while preparing a golden exit in Dubai.”
The action comes after ECOWAS stated it was prepared to intervene militarily in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts to persuade the ruling military junta, which deposed President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup, to restore democracy failed.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, stated on Thursday in Ghana at a summit of West African defence chiefs deliberating on a standby force.
“Let no one be in doubt that if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa…are ready to answer to the call of duty,” Reuters quoted Musah as saying. “By all means available, constitutional order will be restored in the country,” he added.