Saturday’s demonstration was the largest mass gathering in Niger since a military coup in July.
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside a French military base in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Saturday. They demand the withdrawal of French troops from the country now after the military coup.
The coup has widespread popular support in Niger, but France has refused to recognize the new rulers.
France continues to support Niger’s ousted president Mohamed Bazoumia, and has about 1,500 troops in Niger. Niger is a former French colony.
In Saturday’s demonstration, the protesters, among other things, carried coffins draped in Ranka’s flag outside the military base and killed a goat decorated with the colors of the French flag. Their signs called for France to leave the country.
However, no actual acts of violence were seen. Niger army soldiers watched the demonstration from the sidelines.
– We are ready to sacrifice ourselves today, because we are proud, said the protester Yacouba Issoufou.
– They robbed our resources, but we became aware of it, so now they have to leave, he said.
According to news agency Reuters, the demonstration was the largest mass gathering in Niger since the July 26 military coup. Anti-French sentiment has risen in the country recently.
The military administration worries
The military coup in Niger is already the eighth coup in West and Central Africa since 2020. The entire region is feared to end up under military rule.
The biggest impact of the coups has been on France, whose influence in its former colonies in West Africa has declined in recent years. Bitterness towards the former mother country has grown, and French troops have been forced to leave Niger’s neighboring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso after coups. French soldiers have previously played a big role in the fight against Islamist groups.
France is not the only country concerned about the situation in Niger. Ecowas, the economic community of West African countries, has imposed sanctions on Niger and threatened the country with military action as a last resort. Ecowas is currently chaired by the President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu said last week that the economic community could settle for a nine-month transition back to civilian rule in Niger. Niger’s military junta has proposed a three-year transition period.
Source: Reuters