A few hours before the end of the ultimatum given by the military in power in Niger to the French ambassador to leave their country, thousands of people in favor of the coup demonstrated on Sunday, August 27, near the French military base in Niamey.
Protesters responded to calls from organizations supporting the military who seized power in a coup on July 26 and gave French Ambassador Sylvain Itté 48 hours on Friday evening to leave the territory.
The rally had started at dawn on a roundabout located near the airport of the capital Niamey which adjoins a Nigerien air base inside which is the French military camp. Framed by a device of Nigerien soldiers, the protesters waved Nigerien and Russian flags as well as placards calling for the departure of French troops.
A month of protests, decisions and hostile statements
The day before, some 20,000 people had already gathered in a stadium in the capital to support the military in power and denounce France. The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) in power, headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, has taken France, the former colonial power, as its preferred target.
The decision to expel the French ambassador is the culmination of a month of demonstrations, decisions and declarations hostile to French politics since the coup against Mr. Bazoum, still detained with part of his family.
Paris responded by saying that “the putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval emanating only from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities”, those of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Four days after the military seized power, hundreds of their supporters had demonstrated in front of the French embassy in Niamey, causing damage there.
