87 evacuees from Niger, where a coup d’etat occurred last week, landed in Rome early on Wednesday, according to reports.
On board the aircraft besides 36 Italians were 21 Americans, four Bulgarians, two Austrians, one each from Britain, Niger, Hungary, Senegal, and Nigeria, as well as military personnel.
Some Italian civilians have chosen to remain in the country, according to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who also stated that the Italian embassy in Niamey will continue to be operational.
Before the partial evacuation, there were “more or less 80” Italians living in Niamey, according to the Italian ambassador, Emilia Gatto, who also said there was no threat for those who chose to stay.
There has been no mention of the 300 Italian soldiers stationed in Niger as part of counterinsurgency and military training missions.