Belgium has successfully repatriated approximately 130 of its citizens, along with EU citizens and beneficiaries, from Niger with the support of the military. The Belgian Foreign Ministry disclosed

this accomplishment in a press release on Sunday.

A series of return flights, facilitated by an A400M transport aircraft, were conducted between Niamey, Niger's capital, and Libreville, the capital of Gabon, before eventually heading back to Belgium. The A400M aircraft touched down at the Melsbroek military airbase near Brussels on Saturday evening.

Since the occurrence of the coup in Niger, a total of about 240 Belgians, EU citizens, and other beneficiaries have been successfully repatriated. Earlier this month, nearly 100 Belgians and beneficiaries managed to leave Niger through French flights. In recent days, the Belgian military has organized additional flights utilizing a Belgian A400M aircraft.

Ludivine Dedonder, the Defence Minister, expressed her satisfaction with the military's role in this successful repatriation mission, stating, "I am very pleased that the military has once again been able to play its part in this successful repatriation operation." Dedonder also acknowledged the Ministry of Defence for securing authorization for these flights to bring back individuals and transport Belgian military equipment. Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib extended gratitude to all parties involved and affirmed Belgium's commitment to monitoring the situation in Niger. Photo by NigerTZai, Wikimedia commons.