Nigeriens protest against EU demands to release ex-president

Relations between Niger and Europe look set to deteriorate further, as around 1,000 people gathered in Niamey to protest against EU demands to release ex-president Mohamed Bazoum, according to RFI and agencies on March 22nd.

Women were the majority of people present at the demonstration; they responded to a call from civil society groups that denounced a resolution from the European Parliament demanding the “immediate and unconditional” release of Bazoum.

A pro-Western president, Bazoum, was ousted in a July 2023 military coup that installed General Abdourahamane Tchiani as leader, who is critical of Western ties.

Since his ousting, Bazoum and his wife have been detained in a wing of the presidential palace in Niamey.

The European resolution, which is backed by several West African governments, has received backlash from Nigerien organisations and leaders of Niger’s junta-led Sahel allies, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Sahel leaders criticised the move as external interference in the former French colony, arguing that the resolution undermines Sahel sovereignty.

On March 19th, the Sahel juntas issued a joint statement expressing their “strong indignation” at the European plan, while civil society organisations denounced the resolution as an example of Europe’s “paternalistic reflex” and accused France of influencing the decision.

In recent months, Niger has ramped up its criticism of the West, particularly France, which it accuses of supporting terrorism to destabilise the Sahel.

Tchiani implicated France and its “West African lackeys”, the Ivory Coast and Benin, of being involved in the January 29th attack on the Hamani International Airport in Niamey, despite the Islamic State claiming responsibility for the attack.

Until 2023, Niger was a Western ally in the Sahel; however, Niger and its Sahel allies have increasingly rejected Western ties in favour of strategic and security partnerships with Russia.

The Sahel allies sought Russian ties in an effort to counter rising Islamist terrorism in the region from groups affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, which have become increasingly entrenched in the Sahel.

Russian mercenaries maintain a presence in all three countries, with Russian support usually provided in exchange for access to natural resources, such as gold.

However, Russian forces have been accused of human rights abuses, particularly in Mali, where they are accused of perpetrating murders and sexual violence against civilians.

RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org