agencies

Saturday, September 2, 2023 05:00 AM

The military junta in Niger on Friday condemned France’s “further intervention”, following statements by President Emmanuel Macron on Monday in which he reaffirmed his support for ousted President Mohamed Bassoum.

In a statement broadcast on national television, the spokesman for the military junta, Colonel Amadou Abdelrahmane, said, “The government of the Republic of Niger followed with displeasure the statements made by the French President on Monday, August 28, 2023. ” These statements represent “further blatant interference in Niger’s internal affairs”.

Macron said on Monday: “I call on the countries of the region to follow a responsible policy,” recalling that France supports the “diplomatic and military action” of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as France has always insisted. Support for ECOWAS, which has been threatened by weeks of military intervention…constitutional order in Niger and the release of President Mohamed Bassum, who is being held in the presidential palace.

Macron hailed Bassum, who was sacked on July 26 and has yet to resign, as “an honest, democratically elected and courageous man”.

For his part, Abdel Rahman pointed out that “Macron’s statements and his tireless efforts in favor of invading Niger are aimed at perpetuating a new colonial project against the people of Niger who only ask for self-determination”. France “does not affect the relationship between our two peoples or individuals.” But it has to do with the French military presence in Niger.”

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Niamey on Friday, near a military base where French troops are stationed, to demand the withdrawal of French troops, Agence France-Presse reported.

The “sit-in”, called by the “M62” movement, a coalition comprising civil society organizations opposed to the French military presence in Niger, comes after similar demonstrations organized after the July 26 coup and is scheduled to continue until Sunday. .

M62 official Valma Daya told the crowd: “France must leave, it will leave because Niger is not in its country.”

Ibrahim Abdo, a member of the military support group, added: “We will stay here until the last French soldier vacates the place.”

In early August, the military council announced the cancellation of several military agreements concluded with former colonial power France, particularly regarding the deployment of French brigades to participate in the fight against terrorism and extremist groups, France leaving about 1,500 soldiers. They were working within the framework of countering jihadist groups in Niger.

Last week, the military gave French ambassador Sylvain Eté 48 hours to leave the country, but France rejected the request, insisting the ousted Bazoum government was the legitimate authority.