On Sunday, thousands of protesters in support of the Niger military coup gathered and sang “Long Live Putin” in front of the French Embassy in the country.
According to reports, the protesters expressed their displeasure with France’s influence in their former colony as well as their support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite Kremlin requests to free the country’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Some demonstrators stomped down a plaque marking the Embassy before replacing it with Russian and Nigerien flags.
Shouts of “Long live Putin,” “Long live Russia,” and “Down with France” could be heard among the protesters.
Nigerien security officers were spotted using tear gas to disperse the protesters, and some, in defiance, set fire to the compound.
According to President Emmanuel Macron, France would retaliate quickly against anyone who targets French people or infrastructure in Niger.
The international community, especially the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has strongly condemned the coup.
ECOWAS had demanded on Sunday that Bazoum be released and reinstated within a week. It further states that should the junta remain in charge, the group said it would “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” including the use of force.
In addition, the regional group approved a slew of punitive measures, including the closure of land and air crossings with Niger.
Since its independence from France in 1960, Niger has had a long history of military coups, though it has been less politically unstable in recent years. It was the country’s first democratic transfer of power when Bazoum took office in 2021.
