Topline
Supporters of the military junta in Niger attacked the Embassy of Franceâthe countryâs former colonial rulerâwhile expressing support for Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin in the countryâs capital Niamey on Sunday, as other West African nations expressed strong opposition to the juntaâs recent coup and threatened the use of force to restore the status quo.
Key Facts
The protestors in the capital attacked the French Embassyâsetting fire to a door and walls in the compoundâwhile others carried signs which read âDown with France,â according to reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.
According to AP, the demonstrators also waved Russian flags and carried signs praising Putin, although it was unclear if Moscow was involved in organizing the gatherings.
The Russian mercenary group Wagner has maintained an active presence in West Africa and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin expressed support for the coup and even offered his fighters in the region to help the junta.
The coupâs leaders drew strong condemnation from the 15-nation regional bloc known as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which issued a statement Sunday demanding âa full restoration of constitutional orderâ in the country and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum as its leader.
The bloc warned it is prepared to take âall measures necessaryâ to restore âconstitutional orderâ in Niger, including âthe use of force.â
The ECOWAS statement also condemned the âpronouncement of supportâ for the juntaâs regime by âforeign governments and foreign private military contractors.â
Crucial Quote
Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed support for the ECOWASâ ultimatum on Twitter, saying: âI strongly welcome and support the leadership of ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments to defend constitutional order in Niger. The legitimate, democratically-elected government must be reinstated immediately.â