Hundreds in Niger stage protest rally amid rising anti-French sentiment
Hundreds of people in Niger have taken to the streets to show their support for the military coup that has removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power and triggered anti-French sentiments across the region.
A number of demonstrators on Thursday in Niamey held a placard that said: "Long live Niger, Russia, Mali and Burkina. Down with France, ECOWAS, EU."
Many of them chanted anti-Western slogans and waved Russian flags as they gathered outside the National Assembly.
The angry protesters also denounced the main regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has imposed sanctions on Niger and said it could authorize the use of force if soldiers did not restore Bazoum to power by Sunday.
"We are going to demonstrate to all the ECOWAS countries and all those who are taking inhumane and unpopular measures against Niger, which is in the process of freeing itself from the yoke of colonization," a protester at the rally was quoted as saying.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, the former head of Niger's presidential guard, confined Bazoum to his residence last Wednesday and declared himself head of state in the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.
In his address on Wednesday, Tiani called the sanctions "inhumane", saying he rejected any foreign interference but was open to dialogue within the country.
Tiani has won the backing of the juntas in some neighboring countries and cited persistent insecurity as his main justification for seizing power.
Mali and Burkina Faso have said they would treat an intervention in Niger as a "declaration of war" against them too and would come to Niamey's defense. Tiani sent a general to both countries on Wednesday to shore up support.
The rally comes amid a growing wave of anti-French sentiment, with locals saying they want the former colonial ruler to stop interfering in their affairs. Junta supporters also say they want French troops to leave Niger.
Observers say resentment towards France seems to be coming to a boiling point in Mali, Burkina Faso and now Niger.
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