The joy of the citizens of Niger on the French ambassador’s departure.
According to Russia Allium, at the same time as the French ambassador left Niger, the music group “Gambistar” held a concert in the center of Niamey, the capital of Niger, and gathered thousands of people to celebrate the departure of the French ambassador. Supporters of this music group in central Niger also supported the military and military forces that came to power.
At the same time as this concert was held, thousands of people participated for free, a riotous scene took place on Francophonie Street in Niamey, and in one of the songs, the band sang the phrase “We need Chiani” (National Defense Council Chairman, General Abdurrahman Chiani ) and the Nigerian audience also chanted this phrase many times.
On Wednesday, the French Foreign Ministry announced the arrival of Sylvain Ettie, the French ambassador to Niger, in Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron also announced last Sunday that Paris will withdraw its ambassador in Niamey and all embassy employees in Niger, and the French army will leave Niger by the end of this year.
This development comes at a time when the spokesperson of the military council ruling Niger announced that the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the cooperation of France, prevented Niger’s representatives from participating in the United Nations General Assembly.
“Amadou Abdul Rahman,” said in an interview with “RTN” TV channel: The Secretary General of the United Nations colluded with France and the heads of the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by preventing the representative of Niger from participating in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. , did not fulfill his mission as Secretary General.
In this regard, he added that the military members ruling Niger strongly condemn this decision of the United Nations Secretary-General and consider it an intervention in Niger’s internal affairs.
After the coup, anti-French sentiment has increased in Niger. Anti-French sentiments have particularly intensified after France ignored an order by Niger’s military council to expel its ambassador.
During the protests outside the French military base, protesters cut the throat of a goat dressed in French colors and carried coffins covered with the French flag as a line of Nigerien soldiers looked on. Others carried signs calling for France to leave Niger. Reuters reporters said it was the largest anti-French rally since the coup, showing support for the junta – and derision of France – remains strong.
On July 26, Niger’s presidential guard forces detained the president of this country, Muhammad Bazoum, inside the presidential palace, and then removed him from his position. On Friday, August 6, 28, Niger’s coup plotters appointed General Abdurrahman Chiani as the head of the country’s Transitional Council.
With an area of 1.3 million square kilometers, Niger is the largest country in the West African region, and the majority of its population of 24 million people are Muslims. Although Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, it also has the largest uranium reserves. This country was a French colony until 1960 and declared its independence from this country in this year.