Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday, July 30, in front of the French Embassy in Niger, in Niamey, before being dispersed by tear gas canisters, during a rally in support of the putschist soldiers, according to Agence France- Press.

A rally strongly condemned by France. The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, “will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests” in Niger and Paris will respond “immediately and intractably”, said the Elysée.

“Anyone attacking French nationals, the army, diplomats and right-of-way would see France respond immediately and intractably. The President of the Republic will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests,” added the Elysée. “France also supports all regional initiatives” aimed at “the restoration of constitutional order” and the return of Mr. Bazoum, overthrown by putschists.

The French Foreign Ministry has also condemned “any violence against diplomatic premises, the security of which is the responsibility of the host state”. The Quai d’Orsay, which specifies that 500 to 600 French nationals are currently in Niger, also underlined: “The Nigerien forces have the obligation to ensure the security of our diplomatic and consular rights of way under the Vienna conventions”. , and “we urge them to fulfill this obligation under international law”.

Support for Russia chanted by the crowd

The demonstration had started with a march towards the National Assembly, the crowd waving Russian and Nigerien flags. The civil movement M62, which had already protested against the French army’s “Barkhane” operation in the Sahel and the Sahara, called for demonstrations, even though demonstrations had been banned by the junta.

The demonstrators then converged on the French Embassy. But before the tear gas canisters were fired, a few soldiers intervened in front of the embassy to calm the demonstrators.

Some insisted on entering the building, others tore down the plaque displaying “French Embassy in Niger”, before stomping on it and replacing it with Russian and Nigerien flags. “Long live Putin”, “long live Russia”, “down with France”, protesters shout. One of the soldiers, standing in a pick-up truck, waved to the crowd who chanted “Russia, Russia, Russia!” “, “Long live the Nigerian army! and “Tiani, Tiani, Tiani!” “, in reference to General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of the presidential guard who has proclaimed himself the new strong man of the country.

ECOWAS sets an ultimatum and imposes sanctions

The demonstrators also expressed their hostility towards the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which held an extraordinary summit on Sunday. At the end of this meeting, African leaders took several resolutions. They first gave the putschists a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order, saying they did not rule out a “use of force”.

ECOWAS also called for the “immediate release” of President Bazoum and the “full return to constitutional order in the Republic of Niger”. But if these requests are “not met within one week”, the organization will “take all necessary measures” and “such measures may include the use of force”. ECOWAS has also decided on financial sanctions, including the suspension of “all commercial and financial transactions” between its member states and Niger, as well as the freezing of the putschists’ assets.

Even before the West African summit was held, the ruling junta denounced a threat of “imminent military intervention in Niamey”. “The objective of this meeting is the validation of a plan of aggression against Niger, through an imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with African countries which are not members of the organization and certain Western countries”, according to a press release read by a member of the junta, Amadou Abdramane, on national television. “We will once again remind ECOWAS or any other adventurers of our firm determination to defend our homeland,” he added.

The putschists had already warned of “the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention”, referring to “the belligerent attitude” of “former dignitaries holed up in chancelleries in collaboration with the latter”.

In the wake of France and the EU

Since the seizure of power in Niamey, the pressure has been increasing every day on the putschist general Abdourahamane Tiani. The putsch was strongly condemned by Niger’s Western partners, several African countries and the UN, who demanded the release of President Mohamed Bazoum. The latter’s entourage denounced “a coup d’etat for personal convenience”, saying that Mr. Bazoum “is doing very well” despite his confinement.

In Nairobi, Kenyan President William Ruto said that with this coup “Africa has suffered a serious setback in its democratic progress”. The deposed president’s energy minister, Ibrahim Yacouba, meanwhile, called on ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) to fight for “the release without delay” of Mr. Bazoum and the resumption of his functions.

For its part, France announced on Saturday the suspension of its public aid for Niger, which amounted to 120 million euros in 2022. The European Union (EU) also immediately suspended “all its actions cooperation” with the country. As for the AU, it gave the military a fifteen-day ultimatum on Friday to restore “constitutional authority”.

The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken, for his part, assured Mr. Bazoum of Washington’s “unwavering support”, assuring that the coup d’etat jeopardized the “partnership” between the United States and the Niger. He also spoke with Mr. Tinubu on Sunday, expressing his “deep concern” while praising the Nigerian President’s “leadership” and “efforts” to “restore constitutional order in Niger”, spokesman Matthew Miller reported. of the State Department.

Pivot against jihadism

Located in the heart of the Sahel, Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, a vast desert territory with a population of some 20 million inhabitants, with one of the highest demographic growth rates on the planet. Rich in uranium, Niger has had a history of coups since the independence of this former French colony in 1960. The region, too, is unstable, the country being the third to experience a coup since 2020 after the arrival of the military in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Niamey is also the last ally with which Paris maintains a so-called “combat” partnership against the jihadists, in this region plagued by instability, precariousness and attacks. Paris currently has some 1,500 soldiers in Niger, who have until now operated in conjunction with the local army.