Niger: “Down with France, ECOWAS” – Coup supporters scream, gather near French military base

Amid the unrest in Niger Republic, emerging reports indicate that thousands of supporters of coup leaders gathered close to a French military base on the outskirts of Niamey.

The protesters shouted “Down with France, down with ECOWAS”, an allusion to the regional body which on Thursday, August 10, approved deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in the West African country.

Many brandished Russian and Niger flags and yelled their support for the country’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani.

“We are going to make the French leave! ECOWAS isn’t independent; it’s being manipulated by France; there’s outside influence,” said one demonstrator, Aziz Rabeh Ali, a member of a students’ union.

Meanwhile, the coup plotters had threatened to kill detained and ousted President Mohammed Bazoum if the Economic Community of West African States embarked on military intervention in Niger.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned various bodies and concerned persons not to unleash war on the neighbouring country, arguing that Nigeria, especially the northern part, will bear part of the brunt.