Led by Nigeria’s political regime itself seeking legitimacy at their electoral tribunal over a rigged and manipulated election Ecowas states mull military attack on Niger military for coup d’etat
France planning strikes to free ousted president, Niger junta says.
Shared from RT news
THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a 15-member regional bloc, has imposed economic and financial sanctions and warned that if Niger’s coup leaders do not reinstate Bazoum within seven days, it will authorize the use of force. France said it “welcomes the decisions taken by the ECOWAS heads of state” for an “immediate return to the constitutional order in Niger under President Mohamed Bazoum.”
Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane reading a statement on national television on July 31, 2023. © ORTN – Télé Sahel / AFP
However, thousands of supporters of Niger’s junta demonstrated in front of the French embassy in Niamey on Sunday to protest the former colonial power’s alleged meddling in the country’s affairs. The protesters burned French flags and ripped off a plaque with the inscription “Embassy of France in Niger,” according to French newspaper Le Monde.
Macron said on Sunday that attacks on France and its interests in the West African country would not be tolerated and would be met with an immediate response. Paris announced on Saturday that it had suspended, with “immediate effect, all its development aid and budget support actions in Niger.”
Niger people support the 2023 military putsch
The junta had earlier warned against foreign attempts to free Bazoum, who has been held hostage at the palace since Wednesday, when the putsch was staged.
In a statement on Monday, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup leaders, claimed that France, the country’s ally in fighting jihadist insurgencies, has been looking for a means to “intervene militarily” in the situation.
“France, with the complicity of certain Nigeriens, held a meeting at the General Staff of the National Guard of Niger to obtain necessary political and military authorizations,” Abdramane stated.
The coup in Niger is the latest in a series of military takeovers in former French colonies, with similar events happening in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years amid a surge in anti-French sentiment.
Thousands of supporters of Niger’s junta demonstrated in front of the French embassy in Niamey on Sunday to protest the former colonial power’s alleged meddling in the country’s affairs. The protesters burned French flags and ripped off a plaque with the inscription “Embassy of France in Niger,” according to French newspaper Le Monde.
Macron said on Sunday that attacks on France and its interests in the West African country would not be tolerated and would be met with an immediate response. Paris announced on Saturday that it had suspended, with “immediate effect, all its development aid and budget support actions in Niger.”
Commenting on the development RT reader opinion is in rebuke of French meddling in West Africa:
Nick Miller: France facilitated the Rwandan genocide by Hutu Power against the Tutsi. They are the ultimate imperialistic meddlers in African affairs.
Kcin Nosredna: France go home. Africans are wiser now. We are tired of western imperialism. Your presence breeds only poverty. Your so called aids are bribes given to officials to do your biddings against the will of the people. We can’t see the effects of your aids on the lives of the people.
Christed_Light: Even Nigeria, a nation of kleptocrats, wants to go into Niger by force. Ecowas being led by world denounced election rigging president, what irony for West Africa!
petervk: I think this is an internal matter for Niger to sort out but I find it disturbing both ECOWAS and France want to aggravate the domestic issue with the threats of military intervention. At present the coup has been largely peaceful and has been supported by the majority Niger civilian population so what is the purpose of foreign intervention? It seems Niger just doesn’t have the right to self-determination and will forever be bound in servitude or slavery if you wish by foreign and colonial power interference. France should be reminded there are 1,500 French military personnel in Niger that the Niger people clearly don’t want in their country so do we see a problem here?
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