Niger, which has recently hit headlines after the Presidential security guard dethroned its President Mohamed Bazoum, was engulfed in massive civilian unrest on Sunday as pro-junta protesters attacked the French embassy. Hundreds of videos went viral on social media platforms showcased thousands of junta supporters surging through the streets of the national capital, Niamey, waving Russian flags, chanting the name of the Russian president and forcefully denouncing former colonial power France.
In several videos, protestors were seen lighting the French Embassy's main door on fire.
“In the event, the authorities’ demands are not met within one week, (we will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force. To this effect, the chiefs of defence staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,” Omar Alieu Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission, said after the meeting.
Meanwhile, denouncing the violent attack, French President Emmanuel Macron's office, in a statement, said, "The President will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests". The office mentioned that it would respond to attacks against French diplomats, armed forces or businesses.
France, and America voice concern
The French and American governments have voiced their concerns and encouraged conservatives to turn the other way. Bazoum's government has made Niger one of the West's main partners against the Islamic insurgency in Africa's Sahel region.
"We are considering any decision to control or undermine the operation of the President Bazoum-led government's fair elections in Niger," said Jack Sullivan, White House Homeland Security Adviser. "We ask the leaders to release President Bazum and not harm him."
Russia's private army chief Prigozhin calls its "Niger's independence"
Wagner already had its sights set on Niger, in part because it’s a large producer of uranium sought after by Russia. But Bazoum posed an impediment because of his pro-French and pro-Western stance, said Baumgartner.
Wagner’s head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, weighed in on Thursday, describing the developments as part of Niger’s fight against the “colonizers.”
“It effectively means winning independence. The rest will depend on the people of Niger, on how efficient they could govern,” Prigozhin, who led a brief mutiny against the Kremlin last month, said in a statement.
Coup in Niger is not the first time
It is worth mentioning Niger is a landlocked West African nation and has experienced four coup attempts since its independence from France in 1960. The state is one of the most unstable nations in the world. Later in February 2010, the country witnessed its last coup wherein then president Mamadou Tandja was overthrown.
In March 2021, a coup was attempted just two days before Bazoum was set to take oath of the President, but was failed. Subsequently, several top military officials including including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza were arrested.
