Demonstrators protest for the second consecutive day in the capital of Niger, to demand the withdrawal of all French soldiers from the country after the coup that began at the end of July, the Al Arabiya television channel reported today.
According to the outlet, a security cordon was established around the French embassy in Niamey, near which marches are also taking place.
According to the Al Hadath television channel, the protesters tried to remove a nearby French flag and put the Niger flag in its place, the Sputnik news agency reported.
Earlier, it was reported that Burkina Faso and Mali, neighboring countries also ruled by a military junta, had deployed fighter jets to Niger to respond to any manifestation of aggression against that state.
On July 26, a group of Nigerien officials from the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for “inepttitude and the continuing deterioration of security” in the country.
Two days later, General Abdourahamane Tchiani assumed the interim and de facto presidency of the country.
The crisis in Niger divided the Economic Community of West African States (Cedeao), which initially offered an ultimatum to restore constitutional order, although later it expressed a difference on whether to proceed with a military intervention or continue with diplomatic channels to restore in power to Bazoum.
Niger, the former French colony, also broke the agreements with France on military matters. In total, Paris maintains some 1,500 soldiers in the African country.
Yesterday, the coup junta called the statements of French President Emmanuel Macron “paternalistic and interventionist”, whom he accused of creating divisions both in the country and on the African continent “to perpetuate his neocolonial control.”
This occurs after Macron confirmed on Monday that the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté, will not abide by the expulsion order decreed by the military junta, since Paris will not respond to “pressure” from the “illegitimate authorities” of the African country. .
The president made clear his support for the “valor” shown by deposed president Mohamed Bazoum, who remains in custody.
Located in the heart of the Sahel region, Niger is considered one of the poorest and most troubled countries in the world, to the point of having already registered four coups d’état and two civil wars.
The poverty level stood at 48.8% in 2021, equivalent to more than 10 million people, according to World Bank data. There were four coups in Africa that year, the most in a single year in two decades.
Source: Ambito
