Niger Coup Supporters Rally After French Ambassador Ordered Out

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Niger Republic in support of last month’s coup, a day after the country’s new military rulers gave France’s ambassador to Niger 48 hours to leave the country.

The Seyni Kountche stadium, the largest in Niger with a capacity of 30,000 seats, was two-thirds full and the sound of vuvuzelas rang out, according to local journalists.

Some citizens insist that the country fully supports the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), led by General Abdourahamane Tiani which seized power after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum’s government on July 26.

On Friday, Niger’s foreign ministry announced that French ambassador Sylvain Itte had 48 hours to leave, claiming he refused to meet with the new rulers and citing French government actions that were “contrary to the interests of Niger”.

Paris has since rejected the demand, saying that “the putschists do not have the authority to make this request.”

The West African bloc has applied sanctions against the new regime and threatened to use military means to remove it if the new rulers do not hand back power to Bazoum.

Efforts to find a diplomatic solution are continuing, however, with Molly Phee, the top US diplomat for sub-Saharan Africa, visiting Nigeria to meet ECOWAS officials.

The US State Department said Phee was also consulting senior officials in Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Togo — fellow members of the ECOWAS regional bloc.

The new rulers in Niamey accuse ECOWAS of being in France’s pocket.

France has 1,500 soldiers based in Niger who had been helping Bazoum in the fight against jihadist forces that have been active in the country for years.