Several thousand people demonstrated on the morning of Sunday, August 20, in downtown Niamey, in support of the soldiers who took power on July 26 in Niger. The new military authorities announced on Saturday that they wanted to begin a transition period of up to three years.
The slogans “No to sanctions”, “Down with France!” “Stop the military intervention!” “, were read on the Place de la Concertation in the capital, as during previous demonstrations favorable to the new regime, according to journalists from Agence France-Presse present on the spot.
The protest came the day after a televised speech by Niger’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup. In this speech, he outlined an initial transition schedule of a maximum of three years, announcing the launch of a national dialogue.
ECOWAS threat
Earlier in the day, Abdourahamane Tiani had met an ECOWAS delegation led by former Nigerian President Abdulsalami Abubakar, who had come to negotiate a way out of the crisis. Unlike a previous West African mediation, at the beginning of August, this time the emissaries were therefore able to discuss with General Tiani, but also meet Mohamed Bazoum, held prisoner since the coup.
“There is hope, no doubt,” Abubakar said, saying the delegation’s visit “found a key to continue the talks until this difficult matter is resolved.”
ECOWAS demands the reinstatement of Mr. Bazoum in his functions and his immediate release. The West African organization, which has taken heavy economic sanctions against Niger since July 30, threatens to use force if it does not win its case. Friday evening, after a meeting of his chiefs of staff in Accra, Ghana. The regional organization even let it be known that the “day of the intervention has been fixed”.
The military in power in Niamey, who claim to have the support of the population, have warned foreign countries against any armed intervention. “If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park that some people believe in,” said General Abdourahamane Tiani, the country’s new strongman, in a televised speech on Saturday evening.
On Sunday at the Vatican, Pope Francis called for a “peaceful solution as soon as possible,” saying he joined “the call of the bishops for peace in the country and stability in the Sahel.” The day before, Algeria, which shares a long border with Niger, had done the same.