International pressure mounts on leaders of coup in Niger; hundreds rally in support of junta

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — International pressure mounted Thursday on leaders of the coup in Niger because the American secretary of state mentioned the United States “stands very much” in support of West African leaders who’ve threatened to make use of pressure to revive the nation’s democracy, and Senegal provided troops to assist.

As hundreds of anti-French protesters rallied in the Nigerien capital in support of the ruling junta, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided normal support for the regional bloc referred to as ECOWAS, although he didn’t particularly discuss with its menace of navy motion. Blinken informed reporters in New York that the U.S. believes the bloc’s efforts to reinstate toppled President Mohamed Bazoum are “important, strong and have our support.”

Senegal’s overseas affairs minister mentioned her nation would take part in a navy intervention if ECOWAS decides to take motion. “Senegalese soldiers have to go … these coups d’état must be stopped,” Aissata Tall Sall mentioned.

Meanwhile, Niger’s navy leaders sought to use anti-Western sentiment to shore up their takeover. The junta suspended broadcaster RFI and France 24 tv from broadcasting in the nation, in line with the French overseas affairs ministry. The suspensions had been half of the junta’s “authoritarian repression,” the ministry wrote on X, the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter.

Last week’s coup toppled Bazoum, whose ascendency marked Niger’s first peaceable, democratic switch of energy since independence from France in 1960. The coup stirred strident anti-French sentiment and raised questions concerning the future of the combat towards extremism in Africa’s Sahel area, the place Russia and Western international locations have vied for affect.

The coup has been condemned by Western international locations and the ECOWAS bloc, which has threatened to forcibly take away the junta if it doesn’t hand again energy to Bazoum. As tensions have grown in the capital of Niamey and the area, many European international locations have moved to evacuate their residents.

At Thursday’s protest organized by the junta and civil society teams on Niger’s independence day, protesters pumped their fists in the air and chanted support for neighboring international locations which have additionally seen navy takeovers in current years. Some waved Russian flags, and one man brandished a Russian and Nigerien flag sewn collectively.

“For more than 13 years, the Nigerien people have suffered injustices,” protester Moctar Abdou Issa mentioned. The junta “will get us out of this, God willing … they will free the Nigerien people.”

“We’re sick of the French,” he added.

It stays unclear whether or not a majority of the inhabitants helps the coup, and in many components of the capital, individuals went about their lives on Thursday as regular.

U.S. President Joe Biden used the event of Niger’s independence day to name for Bazoum to be launched and democracy restored.

“The Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders. They have expressed their will through free and fair elections — and that must be respected,” he mentioned in an announcement.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby mentioned the administration was nonetheless targeted on diplomacy.

“We still believe there’s time and space for that. The window is not going to be open forever,” Kirby mentioned.

In an tackle to the nation on Wednesday, the brand new navy ruler, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, lashed out at those that have condemned the coup and known as on the inhabitants to be able to defend the nation. He mentioned harsh sanctions imposed final week by ECOWAS had been unlawful, unfair and inhuman.

There had been fears the junta might restrict the export of uranium from Niger, which contributes 5% of the worldwide share, in line with the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The ECOWAS bloc has set a deadline of Sunday for the junta to reinstate Bazoum, who stays beneath home arrest.

At the expiration of the deadline, the bloc is anticipated to resolve by consensus on the following step as advisable by its protection chiefs.

At a bloc assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Brig. Gen. Tukur Ismaila Gusau, a Nigeria protection spokesman, mentioned the protection chiefs have been requested to give you a navy resolution, which they hope will likely be “the last option.”

The bloc’s sanctions embrace halting vitality transactions with Niger, which will get as much as 90% of its energy from neighboring Nigeria, in line with the International Renewable Energy Agency.

France has 1,500 troopers in Niger who conduct joint operations with its navy towards jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The United States and different European international locations have helped practice Niger’s troops.

Niger was seen because the West’s final dependable companion in the area, however some in the nation see Russia and its Wagner mercenary group, which operates in a handful of African international locations, as a robust various.

The new junta has not mentioned whether or not it intends to ally with Moscow or keep on with Niger’s Western companions, however that query has change into central to the unfolding political disaster. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso — each dominated by juntas — have turned towards Moscow.

Even if Niger’s navy rulers demand the withdrawal of French troops — as occurred in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso — it wouldn’t make a distinction, mentioned Anne-Claire Legendre, a spokesperson for the French overseas minister.

“We don’t answer to the putschists. We recognize one constitutional order and one legitimacy only, that of President Bazoum,” she mentioned Wednesday throughout a press briefing.

Ahead of Thursday’s demonstration, the French Embassy in Niamey requested Niger’s authorities to make sure the safety of its premises after it was attacked by protesters and a door was set on fireplace.

The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, dispatched two delegations Thursday to cope with Niger’s disaster.

A gaggle from ECOWAS headed by former Nigerian head of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar was on its technique to Niger. A second group led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe went to have interaction with the leaders of Libya and Algeria, mentioned Ajuri Ngelale, particular adviser to the president.

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Associated Press writers Zane Irwin in Dakar, Senegal; John Leicester in Paris; Toussaint N’Gotta in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Edith Lederer on the United Nations contributed to this report.