FOREIGN nationals lined up outside an airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, this morning waiting for a third evacuation flight.

Soldiers from the west African country’s former colonial ruler France evacuated hundreds of mostly French nationals to Paris on two flights on Tuesday after fears were raised that European citizens risked becoming trapped by last week’s military coup, in which president Mohamed Bazoum was deposed and detained.

The United States has yet to announce plans for an evacuation, but some nationals have left with the help of the Europeans.

After a third flight was cancelled the night before, hundreds of people lined up outside the terminal at Niamey’s airport before sunrise, hoping to leave.

On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) said it would use force against Niger’s new military rulers if it did not release and reinstate the president within a week. But that announcement was immediately rejected by the military governments of neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

Mali and Burkina Faso’s leaders said a military intervention in Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against them.

The defence chiefs of the 15 members of Ecowas will meet for three days in Nigerian capital Abuja tomorrow to discuss next steps in resolving the crisis, the bloc said in a statement.

At a virtual United Nations meeting on Tuesday night, the UN special envoy for West Africa & the Sahel said that efforts other than the threat of force are under way to restore democracy in Niger.

Leonardo Santos Simao said: “One week can be more than enough if everybody talks in good faith, if everybody wants to avoid bloodshed.” But, he added, “different member states are preparing themselves to use force if necessary.”

The US, France and other European countries have poured millions of dollars of military aid into the impoverished country.

France, in common with other European states, depends heavily on the uranium produced in Niger to fuel its domestic electricity supply. Around a third of France’s electricity supply depends on uranium from Niger — while only about 18 per cent of Nigeriens have access to electricity.

The US said on Tuesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Mr Bazoum and stated the US stood with Ecowas, the African Union and international partners in support of democratic governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights in Niger.