On Sunday, thousands of pro-junta demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday and gathered outside the French embassy in Niger’s capital city Niamey after Paris suspended development aid as well as budgetary support to Niger over this week’s military coup against President Mohamed Bazoum.
Demonstrators in the capital, Niamey, many waving Russian flags, smashed windows at the French embassy and set a perimeter door on fire but never breached the walls of the embassy compound.
Protesters filled the Boulevard de la Republique and several other main thoroughfares in the capital, some running, others riding motorcycles, and many packed into vehicles. They blocked cars at traffic circles, backing up traffic on side streets. Some shouted and waved flags, mostly from Niger.
“Nigerien forces have an obligation to ensure the security of our diplomatic missions and consulates as part of the Vienna convention,” the French foreign ministry said, condemning “all violence against diplomatic missions”.
France issued a warning saying that it would retaliate if its citizens were attacked in Niger after protesters tried to enter its embassy in the capital.
“Should anyone attack French nationals, the army, diplomats and French interests, they will see France respond in an immediate and intractable manner,” the French president’s office said, adding that French President Emmanuel Macron “will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests”.
“France also supports all regional initiatives” aimed at “restoring constitutional order” and the return of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, Macron’s office said, as the West African regional bloc ECOWAS was readying to discuss the Niger coup during a summit in Nigeria.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council, in a communique after a meeting on the coup on Friday, demanded, “military personnel to immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority, within a maximum period of fifteen (15) days.”
It condemned in the “strongest terms possible” the act to overthrow the elected government and also expressed deep concern over the “alarming resurgence” of military coups in Africa. “We call on them to immediately fulfil this obligation”.
Meanhwile, the French foreign ministry has said plans to evacuate French citizens are underway in Niger, days after President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by members of his presidential guard.
“Considering the situation in Niamey, the violence against our embassy the day before yesterday and the fact that the air space is shut and our citizens cannot leave by their own means, France is preparing the evacuation of its citizens and (other) European citizens who want to leave the country,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
