Thousands of people yesterday hit the streets in Niger’s capital to demand the immediate departure of US soldiers from the country less than a week after the military junta in Niamey disclosed that it was walking away from a military agreement with Washington.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that shortly after last July’s coup, the West African country said in mid-March that the 2012 cooperation agreement had been “unilaterally imposed” by the United States.
There were several notable members of the military dictatorship mingling with the audience in front of the National Assembly Headquarters in Niamey, including students.
The crowd was heard chanting “Down with American imperialism” and “The people’s liberation is on the march”.
French troops were expelled at the end of 2023, but about 1,000 American soldiers remain based in Agadez city in the north.
In late March, Niger said the US would submit a proposal to “disengage” its soldiers from the country. Washington declined to comment, but said it contacted Niger to “obtain clarification”.
Read Also: Guinea Junta Announces Plan For Constitutional Referendum
“They said they (the Americans) were going to leave, so let them leave in peace and quickly,” shouted Sheikh Ahmadou Mamoudou, a well-known religious leader.
Flags from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Russia were visible but organisers asked demonstrators to refrain from slogans insulting the US or burning its flags.
In March Niger joined neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso in the creation of a joint force to battle the long-running jihadist rebellions raging in the three nations.
The three countries have turned their backs on former coloniser France and strengthened their ties with Russia.
Meanwhile, Russian military trainers have arrived in Niger with an air defence system and other equipment as part of the West African nation’s deepening security ties with Moscow, state media reported.
Niger’s military government agreed in January to step up military cooperation with Russia, after expelling French forces that were helping fight armed rebellions in several Sahel nations.