In what was regarded as the biggest gathering since the July 26 coup in Niger, tens of thousands of protesters gathered kn Saturday outside a French military base in the country’s capital, Niamey, demanding that its troops leave in the wake of a military coup that has widespread popular support but which Paris refuses to recognise.
The protesters also demanded that France withdraw its ambassador from the West African country as its new military rulers have accused Niger’s former colonial ruler of “interference”.
Most impacted by the July 26 coup in Niger is France, whose influence over its former colonies has waned in West Africa in recent years just as popular vitriol has grown.
Its forces have been kicked out of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso since coups in those countries, reducing its role in a region-wide fight against deadly Islamist insurgencies.
Anti-French sentiment has risen in Niger since the coup but soured further last week when France ignored the junta’s order for its ambassador, Sylvain Itte, to leave. Police have been instructed to expel him, the junta said.
The protesters gathered near a base housing French soldiers after a call by several civic organisations hostile to the French military presence. They held up banners proclaiming, “French army, leave our country.”
Outside the military base, the protesters yesterday slit the throat of a goat dressed in French colours and carried coffins draped in French flags as a line of Nigerien soldiers looked on. Others carried signs calling for France to leave.
Al Jazeera reported that the protests that have taken place over the past few days have been “relatively calm and organised,” but yesterday, the demonstrators were seen “breaking the barriers set up by the security forces, the police and the military” and approaching the army base with some trying to force their way in.
Reuters reporters said it was the biggest gathering yet since the coup, suggesting that support for the junta – and derision of France – was not waning.
“We are ready to sacrifice ourselves today, because we are proud,” said demonstrator Yacouba Issoufou. “They plundered our resources and we became aware. So, they’re going to get out.”
France had cordial relations with ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and has about 1,500 troops stationed in Niger.
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke to Bazoum every day and that “the decisions we will take, whatever they may be, will be based upon exchanges with Bazoum.”
Macron has backed ousted President Bazoum and refused to recognise the new rulers.
France’s ambassador, Itte, has remained in Niger despite a 48-hour deadline to leave the country given more than a week ago, a decision Macron said he “applauds”.
Niger’s junta denounced Macron’s comments as divisive and served only to perpetrate France’s neo-colonial relationship.
Al Jazeera reported that the demonstrators expressing frustration that there is still a French presence in the country were beginning to take matters into their own hands.
France is not the only country with concerns. West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS has slapped sanctions on Niger and threatened military action as a last resort. The United States and European powers also have troops stationed in the country.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who holds ECOWAS’ revolving chairmanship, said last week that a nine-month transition back to civilian rule could satisfy regional powers.
Niger’s junta had previously proposed a three-year timeline.
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