Students in Niger show their support for the coup leader

A hundred or so students have protested in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in favor of the military, which overthrew the government on July 26.

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made threats of military involvement and imposed sanctions, which incensed protesters.

In the coup, the presidential guard of Niger removed and imprisoned President Mohamed Bazoum.

General Abdourahmane Tchiani, commander of the guard, declared his intention to take over as interim commander and head of the caretaker National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).

Karimou Soumana, one of the student protestors, said: “I’d like to urge to the media and even the people of Niger to understand that what ECOWAS or the world community is doing is nothing more than intimidation and that we even don’t believe in [military action].

The only thing people need to do to overcome this intimidation is to maintain their Nigerien spirit.

The junta that overthrew Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was given one week to reinstate him or face the use of force by ECOWAS, which also sanctioned Niger.

Another student asserted that the nation could survive without assistance from other nations.

Daouda Djibo questioned, “Sixty-three years of aid, where are we?”

“We’re the poorest country in Africa, but we’re told that Niger has a lot of potential, so what good is foreign aid?” To be able to wrest our freedom, our new independence, we would be resilient behind our [Defence and Security Forces].

The junta in Niger has promised to react “immediately” to any outside interference. He has been imprisoning Bazoum and his family in the capital city of Niamey for the past nine days.