The French Embassy in Niger was stormed by thousands of pro-military coup demonstrators, waving Russian and Nigerien flags. In response, France threatened to retaliate against any attack on its interests.
In the capital Niamey on Sunday, thousands of people waving Russian and Niger flags rallied outside the national parliament in Niamey on Sunday in a show of support for the junta.
They then moved on to the French embassy, shouting “long live Putin” and “down with France”, before being dispersed by soldiers with tear gas, an AFP journalist saw.
Some tried to storm the embassy but were dispersed with tear gas.
A soldier standing in a pick-up truck waved to the crowd, shouting “Russia, Russia, Russia!”, “long live Niger’s army!” and “Tiani, Tiani, Tiani!”.
A number of demonstrators headed for the embassy of the United States.
France condemned the assault on its embassy, warning it would retaliate if its citizens or interests were attacked, and said it would support all regional initiatives to restore order in Niger.
“Should anyone attack French nationals, the army, diplomats and French interests, they will see France respond in an immediate and intractable manner,” the French presidency said.
Niger’s neighbours and fellow former French colonies Mali and Burkina Faso have both been beset by military coups since 2020, fuelled by anger at the civilian authorities’ failure to quash long-running insurgencies by jihadists linked to the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.
Tiani said the putsch in Niger was a response to “the degradation of the security situation” linked to jihadist bloodshed, as well as corruption and economic woes.
Marie de La Roche Saint-André, with AFP
