EU countries to evacuate citizens from Niger as coup leaders get support from West African juntas

This comes as two other West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers, Mali and Burkina Faso, warned that any military intervention against the junta would be considered a "declaration of war".

The French Foreign Ministry in Paris cited recent violence that targeted the French Embassy in Niamey, the capital, as one of the reasons for the decision.

The closure of Niger's airspace also “leaves our compatriots unable to leave the country by their own means,” the ministry said.

The evacuation was starting Tuesday for French and European citizens who wish to leave, it said in a statement. The German Foreign Ministry has urged German citizens in Niger to board the evacuation planes offered by the French authorities.

Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani announced on Twitter that Italy would also arrange flights to evacuate its nationals from Niger's capital Niamey.

"The Italian government has decided to offer Italian nationals present in Niamey the possibility of leaving the city on a special flight to Italy. The Italian Embassy in Niamey will remain open and operational, also to contribute to the mediation efforts a course," Tajani said.

Later on Tuesday, the Spanish foreign ministry confirmed it would evacuate 70 of its citizens from Niger by planes, given the absence of commercial flights. The evacuations will begin Tuesday and could be extended to other EU nationals.

The three EU countries' decisions to evacuate come amid a deepening crisis sparked by the coup last week against Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.

A European Commission spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that EU personnel in Niger’s capital Niamey have been offered support to leave the city voluntarily, but that no decision on formally