Supporters of the military who seized power in Niger last week have been showing their support for Russia.
In a sign of growing hostility towards the West since the coup in Niger, a businessman proudly shows off his outfit in the colours of the Russian flag in the traditional heartland of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.Mr Bazoum was a staunch ally of the West in the fight against militant Islamists, and was a strong economic partner as well.
Thousands took part in a protest in the capital Niamey on Sunday, with some waving Russian flags and even attacking the French embassy.The businessman, based 800km away in the central city of Zinder, didn't want to give his name for safety reasons and asked that we blur his face."They've exploited all the riches of my country such as uranium, petrol and gold. The poorest Nigeriens are unable to eat three times a day because of France.
Niger is home to 24.4 million people where two in every five live in extreme poverty, on less than $2.15 a day.The demonstrations in favour of Niger's military takeover have often featured Russian flags Under pressure from the Islamists, the armies in both neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, also former French colonies with considerable French interests, seized power in recent years, saying this would help in the fight against jihadists.
Although Islamist attacks have continued in Mali, Burkina Faso's junta has also grown close to Russia and expelled hundreds of French forces.Several civil society groups began escalating anti-French protests in mid-2022, when Mr Bazoum's administration approved the redeployment of France's Barkhane forces to Niger after they had been ordered to leave Mali.
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