Coup d’état | Thousands of protesters in favor of the coup in Niger and against the ECOWAS ultimatum

2023-08-06 21:29:46

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated again this Sunday in Niamey forto express their support for the coup junta of Niger a few hours after the expiration at midnight of the ultimatum of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) to the military in power to restore constitutional order, under the threat of military intervention.

The protesters gathered at the Seyni Kounche stadium -the main one in the African country with a capacity of more than 30,000 seats- which was completely full, and also in the surroundings of the complex, while chanting slogans in support of coup junta, calling itself the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), according to EFE.

“Niger is a sovereign country!“Cedeao, get out!”, “Down with the illegal and illegitimate sanctions of ECOWAS!” and “The people are behind their army for a total emancipation” were some of the slogans shouted by the demonstrators who raised the flags of Niger, Russia, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Conakry.

The protesters warned that they are ready to fight and sacrifice themselves in the face of any foreign military attack against their country.

Also they considered as “traitors” the politicians of the deposed government who rejected the military rebellion and called Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who supports a military option against the coup leaders, a “shame on Africa.”

Those attending the protest expressed their willingness to resist the commercial and financial sanctions of ECOWAS, such as the power cuts (supplied from Nigeria) suffered in recent days by several cities in the African country and the closure of some countries such as Nigeria its border with Niger.

The protesters also shouted slogans against Francea former colonial power that currently has a strong military presence in the African country within the framework of bilateral cooperation agreements in the fight against terrorism.

In this sense, they called for the immediate withdrawal of the French and Western anti-terrorist forces, and demanded the nationalization of the uranium mines in Niger (a country that is considered one of the main suppliers of this metal to France and the European Union).

This Sunday expires the ultimatum given by Cedeao to the coup junta to return the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, to power. Although this body specified that this intervention would be the “last option”ten of the fifteen member countries assured last Friday that they had prepared all the details to use force in Niger.

However, the military option divides the countries of the African continent and even the members of ECOWAS itself. For now, the governments of Nigeria, Benin, the Ivory Coast and Senegal have clearly confirmed the availability of their armies to intervene in Nigerian territory.

At the other extreme, Mali and Burkina Faso, countries close to Moscow and governed by military juntas, oppose the use of force and claim that any intervention in Niger would amount to a declaration of war against them as well.

The Nigerien coup junta warned ECOWAS that all military actions against this country will have “an immediate response and without notice” of his Army.