Niger: The largest anti-France protests.
According to Reuters, tens of thousands of Nigerian protesters gathered in front of a French military base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, and demanded the withdrawal of the country’s forces following the military coup. A coup that has widespread popular support, but Paris refuses to recognize it.
The July 26 coup in Niger is one of eight coups in West and Central Africa since 2020, which has world powers worried about military regime change across the region.
As a result of this coup, the regional influence of France, whose influence on its former colonies had decreased in recent years in West Africa, has become even less. After previous coups in the neighboring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso, French troops have been expelled from these countries and now they cannot stay in Niger either.
After the coup, anti-French sentiment has increased in Niger. Anti-French sentiments have particularly intensified since last week, when France ignored the junta’s order to expel its ambassador, Sylvain Yette.
Also outside a French military base on Saturday, protesters cut the throat of a goat dressed in French colors and carried coffins draped in the French flag as a line of Nigerien soldiers looked on. Others carried signs calling for France to leave Niger.
Reuters reporters said it was the largest anti-French rally since the coup, showing support for the junta – and derision of France – remains strong.
“We are ready to sacrifice ourselves today because we are proud,” said one of the protesters at the rally, Yakuba Issoufou. “They looted our resources and we became aware.”
France had close relations with Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, and has about 1,500 troops stationed in Niger.
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he talks to Bazoum every day and that the decisions we will make, whatever they are, will be based on exchanges with Bazoum.
