WEB DESK
Around 300 Indians are stranded in the capital amid the worsening security situation in Niger. They are waiting to be evacuated by the Indian government. They have sent repeated pleas to the Indian Embassy in Niger. After receiving no major response or clarity on the evacuation mission from the Embassy, a group that includes eight Keralites left capital Niamey and took the risk of crossing the border by road. According to reports, the group reached the Benin border on Wednesday morning. One of the members of the group said that the only support that they received was a letter issued by the Indian Embassy, directing them to cross the capital city border. The group was stopped by the Niger military at the Benin border. They were forced to take refuge in a nearby building. However, after repeated requests later, they were allowed to cross the border yesterday. Their passports have been stamped with exit and entry to Benin by the authorities. The group will reach the capital Porto-Novo today. The members will have to take a flight from there to India on their own.
Meanwhile, Military chiefs from West African states yesterday began two days of discussions in Ghana’s capital Accra about the ongoing crisis in Niger. West African regional bloc ECOWAS said the meeting was being held to finalize plans for the deployment of the Standby Force. Earlier on Monday, the military regime that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum after the 26th July coup, announced that it would bring Bazoum to trial on charges of high treason.