2023-07-30 12:03:52
In Niger, ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021, begins his fifth day sequestered in his private residence at the presidential palace by his close guard, whose leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has taken over as head of the military junta, called Conseil national for the safeguard of the fatherland (CNSP). The latter denounced a military threat from the Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This alliance, to which Niger belongs, is due to meet in a “special summit” on Sunday in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, to assess the situation, with probable sanctions in the key.
“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 that 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 adventurer of our firm determination to defend our homeland,” he added.
Demonstrations in support of the putschists
The putschists had already warned of “the consequences that will result from any foreign military intervention”, evoking “the belligerent attitude” of “former dignitaries holed up in chancelleries in collaboration with the latter”. A demonstration in support of the junta is taking place this Sunday morning in Niamey, which remains relatively calm, despite the putschists’ ban on gatherings. After a march towards the National Assembly, thousands of people, waving Russian flags, gathered in front of the French Embassy.
The M62 civil movement, which had already protested against the French army’s Barkhane operation in the Sahel and the Sahara, called for demonstrations. Two pro-coup marches took place in Niamey and Dosso (about a hundred kilometers southeast of the capital) on Thursday, the first punctuated by incidents, before the junta called “the population to calm” and banned events.
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