As Niger celebrates the 63rd anniversary of its independence from France, hundreds of junta supporters began to gather Thursday, August 3, in Niamey, to support the putschists who seized power in overthrowing the president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Demonstrators, some waving large Russian flags, began to gather in the center of the capital, Place de l’Indépendance, at the call of M62, a coalition of “sovereignist” civil society organizations. Members of the organization ensure the security of the rally, which is taking place for the moment in calm and good humor, according to journalists from Agence France-Presse.
Since the July 26 coup in Niamey, relations with France, which has some 1,500 soldiers to help fight the jihadist armed groups that plague the country, have deteriorated following incidents on Sunday , during a previous demonstration in front of the French Embassy. The Ministry of the Armed Forces announced Thursday the end of the evacuation operation, with 1,079 people repatriated, including more than 500 French people, in five planes chartered by France. They “are now safe”, announced Sébastien Lecornu, the Minister of the Armed Forces.
Biden calls for ‘preservation of democracy’
“It’s only security that interests us”, whether it is provided by “Russia, China, Turkey, if they want to help us”, says one of the demonstrators, Issiaka Hamadou, a young entrepreneur, who adds: “We just don’t want the French who have been looting us since 1960, they’ve been there ever since and nothing changes! What were they used for? Oumar agrees: “Me, I’m a student, I don’t have a job after studying in this country, because of the regime [of Bazoum], which is supported by France: all that, it has to be clear ! »
Prior to this gathering, France asked “the Nigerien security forces to take the necessary steps to ensure that the security of foreign diplomatic holdings in Niamey, particularly those of France, will be fully guaranteed”.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power in Niamey at the head of putschist soldiers, estimated Wednesday evening that the French “have no objective reason to leave Niger”, because they “have never been the object of the slightest threat”. In a speech on Independence Day, he called on his supporters to demonstrate “calmly”.
US President Joe Biden called on Thursday for the “immediate release” of Niger’s deposed President, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since last week by the military behind the coup. In a statement issued on August 3, Mr. Biden urges “the preservation of hard-won democracy in Niger”.
The United States on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of its non-essential personnel from its embassy in Niamey. London did the same on Thursday “due to the security situation”.
“At this critical time, the United States stands with the people of Niger in respect for a decades-long partnership rooted in shared democratic values ??and support for civilian government,” added Mr. Biden. “Nigerians have the right to choose their leaders. They spoke in free and fair elections, and that must be respected,” he also said.
In his statement, he underlines the importance of the partnership between the United States and Niger, an oil and uranium producer, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken came in March and met President Bazoum. “Defending fundamental democratic values ??and supporting constitutional order, justice, and the right to peaceful assembly are essential in the partnership between Niger and the United States,” he said.
Niger has become an essential ally of the West, the United States in particular has an air base in the center of Niger, used to pilot drones intended to attack and monitor jihadists. The Biden administration wants to engage more in Africa to counter the growing influence of China and, more recently, Russia.