For the past seven days, hundreds of protesters have maintained a presence outside a French military base in Niamey, Niger’s capital, demanding the departure of French troops. This protest is emblematic of the escalating anti-French sentiment that has emerged in the wake of the military coup that occurred in July.
The demonstration, which began last Saturday, unfolded nearly five weeks after soldiers toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, seizing power in a coup that has garnered widespread condemnation internationally but has found support among many within Niger.
Tensions between Niger and its former colonial power, France, have deteriorated since Paris declared the junta illegitimate, further fuelling anti-French sentiment in the country.
Calls have intensified for the approximately 1,500 French troops stationed in Niger as part of a broader effort to combat Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region to withdraw from the country. Thus far, France has resisted these calls.
While rallies in support of the junta have been a recurring theme since the coup took place, the crowd camped outside the French military base has grown in size and shows no signs of dispersing.
On Friday, protesters even marked Muslim midday prayers, which are traditionally conducted in a mosque in front of the base, underscoring the determination of the demonstrators.
Hassane Aissa Seyni, among the protesters and wearing a headscarf, expressed her views, saying, ‘France has never stood by its colonies and helped us. On the contrary, they are here to plunder our resources.’ Her sentiments reflect the growing discontent with the French military presence in Niger.
The ongoing protest outside the French military base signifies a deepening divide between the two nations and underscores the complex diplomatic challenges arising from the aftermath of the military coup.
