Coup Supporters Protest Near French Base Amid ECOWAS Meeting Suspension
Thousands of supporters of Niger’s dictatorship gathered near a French military base on Friday to protest the deployment of an armed force by the West African bloc ECOWAS.
The demonstrations occurred as the regional bloc indefinitely canceled a Saturday meeting between army chiefs of staff in Ghana’s capital Accra.
As ECOWAS suspends a military meeting, thousands of coup supporters congregate in Niger.
Thousands of Niger coup supporters took to the streets on Friday to protest plans by West African nations to deploy a military force in the country, as a crucial regional meeting on a potential intervention was canceled.
ECOWAS had approved a “standby force” to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, with the EU’s top diplomat expressing concern over his detention conditions since his ouster on July 26.
Regional military sources reported on Friday that chiefs of staff from member states of the West African bloc were scheduled to attend a meeting on Saturday in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
However, they subsequently stated that the meeting was canceled indefinitely for “technical reasons.”
According to the sources, the original purpose of the meeting was to notify the organization’s leaders about “the best options” for activating and deploying the reserve force.
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The ECOWAS has not yet provided details on the force or a timeline for action, and the leaders have reiterated their desire for a peaceful resolution.
Important events on Friday, August 11:
Friday evening, thousands of coup supporters demonstrated in front of a French army base in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The demonstrations occurred just hours after ECOWAS took steps toward a potential military intervention in the country.
Friday, the United Nations human rights chief expressed concern for the deposed president of Niger and his family, Mohamed Bazoum, stating that their detention conditions were “rapidly deteriorating.”
According to credible allegations received by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, the conditions of detention may constitute inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of international human rights law.
A spokesperson for the regional bloc ECOWAS said on Friday that West African army chiefs plan to convene the following week to prepare for a possible military intervention in Niger.
Coup Supporters Protest Near French Base Amid ECOWAS Meeting Suspension
