Niger is preparing for a weekend filled with planned protests against France as tensions escalate between the country’s new military leadership and its traditional ally.
A coalition of civil society organizations that oppose the presence of French forces in Niger has initiated a three-day sit-in starting on Friday.
This protest, organized by the M62 group, will be held in central Niamey and aims to demand the departure of the French troops.
France currently maintains approximately 1,500 troops in Niger, with many stationed at an airbase near the capital, to assist in the fight against a violent jihadist insurgency.
Simultaneously, another civil society group, the Patriotic Front for the Sovereignty of Niger, has called for a “permanent” sit-in, commencing on Saturday and continuing until all French soldiers have left the country.
Tensions between Niger and France have escalated following the coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum, a close ally of France, from power on July 26.
Paris has remained supportive of Bazoum and refuses to recognize the new rulers in Niger.
This dispute escalated further when Niger’s military regime revoked diplomatic immunity for France’s ambassador and ordered his expulsion.
France has refused to comply with this demand, asserting the government lacks the legal authority to issue such an order.
Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere, a French military spokesman, cautioned that French military forces are prepared to respond to any increased tensions that could endanger French diplomatic and military facilities in Niger.
Meanwhile, cars departing from the French embassy in Niger are now subject to systematic searches by security forces, as reported by residents in the area.
Another contentious issue between France and Niger is the expiration of military agreements made on August 3.
Niger’s new rulers invalidated these agreements, but France has not recognized this move as legitimate.
These agreements encompass various timeframes, with one dating back to 2012, set to expire within a month, according to military leaders.
Niger’s new military leadership faces calls to transition back to civilian rule within months, with different proposals being suggested by regional leaders.
The military rulers have yet to respond to these suggestions, previously mentioning a three-year transition period.
The regional bloc ECOWAS has issued a warning that it may intervene militarily to restore civilian rule if diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis prove unsuccessful.
ECOWAS has also imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup.
Approximately 20 human rights organizations have called for the West African bloc to lift these economic measures, arguing that they will further exacerbate the vulnerability of Niger’s population.
They contend that these sanctions have been met with disappointment by the impoverished population, who had expected more solidarity and empathy.
Niger is grappling with two jihadist insurgencies, one spilling over from neighboring Nigeria in the southeast and another originating from militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso in the southwest of the country.
