Another rally at French base in Niger

 

 

ShanghaiEye魔都眼

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the French military base in Niger's capital Niamey on Friday (August 25), threatening to storm the facility if troops don't depart the West African nation within a week.

The protest came on the same day Niger's junta, which seized power in a coup on July 26, ordered the French ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours, a sign of further deterioration in relations between coup leaders and the West.

The Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs said French Ambassador Sylvain Itte was asked to leave Niger within 48 hours in a letter that accused him of ignoring an invitation for a meeting with the ministry.

On August 24 2023, the President of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Motherland, Brigadier General Brig. Gen. Abdrahmane Tchiani, of two orders, authorised the defence and security forces of Burkina Faso and Mali to intervene in Nigerien territory in the event of aggression.

Any military intervention of their neighbor would be considered a “declaration of war” against their countries, the juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have said.

Speaking at a press conference, Omar said ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) has neither declared war on the people of Niger nor is there a plan, as has been purported, to invade the country.

Instead, the ECOWAS is trying to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Niger, said ECOWAS President Omar Touray on Friday.

He said they only activated a full-scale application of sanctions against Niger's military rulers, including the possible use of force.

Editor: Zou