Thousands of Nigeriens took to the streets of Niamey, the capital city, on Saturday, September 2, to express their anger and resentment against the presence of French troops and the French ambassador in their country. The protests were organized by a group called M62, which opposed the military coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
The protesters chanted slogans such as “France out” and “Down with Macron”, referring to the French president who has been supportive of Bazoum and critical of the coup leaders. The protesters also carried placards that read “French army should leave our country” and “We don’t need France’s protection”. They marched towards the French base and the French embassy in Niamey, where they were met by security forces who dispersed them with tear gas and water cannons.
The protests were triggered by the recent decisions of the military junta led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard who seized power from Bazoum in a bloodless coup. Tchiani announced on August 3 that he was terminating all military agreements with France, which has about 1,500 troops stationed in Niger as part of a regional operation against Islamist militants. He also ordered the expulsion of French Ambassador Sylvain Itte on Thursday, accusing him of meddling in Niger’s internal affairs.
The junta’s actions have provoked a strong reaction from France, which considers Niger a key ally in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. France said that only the legitimate government of Bazoum could end the military cooperation and that it would not recognize the junta’s authority. France also praised Itte for his courage and professionalism in defying the junta’s ultimatum to leave Niger within 48 hours.
On Friday, President Macron denounced the coup as a “serious setback for democracy” and called for a swift return to constitutional order in Niger. He also warned that France would not tolerate any attacks on its military or diplomatic facilities in Niger and that it would respond accordingly.
The situation in Niger remains tense and uncertain, as the junta has not yet announced a roadmap for a transition to civilian rule. The regional bloc ECOWAS, which suspended Niger’s membership after the coup, has been mediating between the junta and the opposition parties to find a peaceful solution. The international community has also urged the junta to respect human rights and release Bazoum and other detained officials. The coup has raised fears of instability and violence in Niger, which is one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world.
Thousands of protestors gather in Niger’s capital Niamey in the latest protests against the presence of French troops in the West African country https://t.co/8I4Fxr7Bv8 pic.twitter.com/UhzKryQRGD
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) September 2, 2023
0 Comments