Tons of of individuals rallied in assist of Niger’s ruling junta within the capital on Thursday, denouncing France and others who’ve criticized a latest coup — because the nation’s army leaders sought to use anti-Western sentiment to shore up their takeover.
As numbers started to swell at an illustration organized by the junta and civil society teams on Niger’s independence day, protesters in Niamey pumped their fists within the air and chanted assist for neighbouring international locations which have additionally seen army takeovers in recent times.
Some waved Russian flags, and one man brandished a Russian and Nigerien flag sewn collectively.
Final week’s coup toppled President Mohamed Bazoum — whose ascendency marked Niger’s first peaceable, democratic switch of energy since independence from France in 1960. It has been accompanied by strident anti-French sentiment and raised questions on the way forward for the combat towards extremism in Africa’s Sahel area, the place Russia and Western international locations have vied for affect.
The coup has been strongly condemned by Western international locations and the West African regional bloc referred to as ECOWAS, which has threatened to make use of power to take away the junta if they do not hand again energy to Bazoum. As tensions have grown within the capital and the area, many European international locations have moved to evacuate their residents.
Some see takeover as push for freedom
At Thursday’s protest, many expressed assist for the coup leaders and denounced interference from others.
“For greater than 13 years, the Nigerien individuals have suffered injustices,” mentioned protester Moctar Abdou Issa. The junta “will get us out of this, God prepared — they may free the Nigerien individuals.
“We’re sick of the French.”
One other protester, who didn’t give his identify, informed Reuters that Niger is “within the technique of liberating itself from the yoke of colonization.”
France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, serving to to combat an insurgency by teams linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that has unfold throughout the area.
After final yr’s coup in Burkina Faso and Mali’s in 2021, each international locations kicked out French troops, a lot of whom are now stationed in Niger.
Junta suspends French broadcasts
Niger on Thursday suspended broadcasts of French state-funded worldwide information shops France 24 and RFI — drawing condemnation from the French Overseas Ministry.
In an tackle to the nation on Wednesday, the brand new army ruler, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, lashed out at those that have condemned the coup and known as on the inhabitants to be able to defend the nation.
Tchiani mentioned Niger will face troublesome occasions forward and that the “hostile and radical” attitudes of those that oppose his rule present no added worth. He known as harsh sanctions imposed final week by ECOWAS unlawful, unfair, inhuman and unprecedented.
Speak of regional army intervention
The bloc has set a deadline of Sunday for the junta to reinstate Bazoum, who stays beneath home arrest. Since Wednesday, ECOWAS’s defence chiefs have been discussing a doable plan for army intervention within the nation, in keeping with an announcement by Fidele Sarassoro, govt secretary of the nationwide safety council in Ivory Coast, which is a member of the bloc.
Senegal’s overseas minister, Aissata Tall Sall, mentioned Thursday that if there’s a army intervention in Niger by ECOWAS, his nation would take part.
The bloc’s sanctions embrace halting power transactions with Niger, which will get as much as 90 per cent of its energy from neighbouring Nigeria, in keeping with the Worldwide Renewable Vitality Company.
Western international locations are involved that Niger may emulate neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso in turning towards Russia as an ally and that the unrest may enable Islamists to achieve floor.
Forward of Thursday’s demonstration, the French Embassy in Niamey requested Niger’s authorities to take all measures to make sure the safety and safety of its premises after it was attacked by protesters and a door was set on fireplace final weekend.
Foreigners airlifted out
The French army mentioned that 5 flights utilizing its planes had evacuated greater than 1,000 individuals this week, and France’s Overseas Ministry mentioned Thursday that its evacuation operation has ended. The flights introduced out individuals from 50 nationalities.
International Affairs Canada on Thursday mentioned it is conscious of at the very least 11 Canadians who left the nation on flights organized by France.
The division mentioned the Canadian authorities doesn’t have such flights for its nationals “at the moment.” The worldwide airport in Niamey is about to reopen to industrial flights on Saturday, and International Affairs mentioned “quite a few airways” have already booked departures.
The Canadian authorities mentioned on its travel advisory website that any of its residents who’re within the capital of Niger ought to make contingency plans to go away the nation and have evacuation plans “that don’t depend on Canadian authorities help.”
The U.S. State Division on Wednesday ordered what it mentioned was the non permanent departure of non-essential embassy workers and a few members of the family from Niger as a precaution. It mentioned its embassy would stay open.
U.S. President Joe Biden used the event of Niger’s Independence Day to name for Bazoum to be launched and democracy restored.
“The Nigerien individuals have the fitting to decide on their leaders. They’ve expressed their will by way of free and truthful elections — and that should be revered,” he mentioned in an announcement Thursday.
Nigeria cuts off energy transmission
Earlier this week, Nigeria reduce off energy transmission to Niger, an official at one among Nigeria’s primary electrical energy firms mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to touch upon the problem.
The official didn’t make clear how a lot of Niger’s energy the reduce represented, however any discount would additional squeeze residents within the impoverished nation of greater than 25 million individuals the place the electrical energy provide is already unreliable.
On Wednesday, the Niger president’s get together accused the junta of slicing off electrical energy to his residence since that morning. “In consequence, the president of the republic and his household now not profit from the rotating provide of power,” mentioned Kalla Ankourao, the ruling get together’s common secretary.