Several thousand individuals had stormed the streets of the capital city in Niger, on Sunday, August 20, in support of General Tiani’s warning to foreign countries against any intervention.
Note that Tiani had slso proposed a three-year transition of power for prospective leaders in the country.
The protesters had sung hostile words to France (a former colonial power) and West African regional bloc ECOWAS (a potential military ally) to restore elected president Mohamed Bazoum if the present ongoing negotiations with coup leaders fail.
Niger’s new military leaders had banned demonstrations but those in support of the coup are allowed to demonstrate however they please.
The demonstrators had waved banners with the words: “Stop the military intervention” , “No to sanctions”, in allusion to the financial and trade restrictions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, a few days after the coup on July 26.
Today’s pro-coup rally was followed by musicians acknowledging the new military regime, according to AFP journalists.
Niger’s military junta have accused France, President Bazoum’s ally, of being behind the anti-coup position taken by ECOWAS, that had on Saturday, August 19, made a fresh push for a diplomatic solution.
