Political crisis in Niger deepens: How dangerous is the situation on the ground?

Synopsis

European nations, including France, Italy, and Spain, organize evacuation flights for their citizens in Niger following a coup against the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. Germany urges its nationals to join these flights as Niger's airspace remains closed and commercial flights are canceled. The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, condemns the coup, while military leaders from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso threaten to defend Niger's new military rulers with force. They warn that any military intervention would be seen as a declaration of war against their countries. The new leaders in Niger claim that the previous government authorized France to conduct military strikes to reinstate Bazoum, a claim France's foreign minister denies. The European Union condemns the coup as a threat to Niger's democracy but has not issued a formal evacuation order, instead offering EU personnel the option to leave voluntarily as the situation remains tense and unstable.