Violence outside French embassy in Niger: Macron says he 'will not tolerate any attack'
Thousands of people protested on Sunday in front of the French embassy in Niamey, before being dispersed with tear gas, during a demonstration in support of the military coup that overthrew the elected president Mohamed Bazoum in Niger, reports AFP and Agerpres.
In response to the violence, the Elysee Palace said French President Emmanuel Macron "will not tolerate any attack on France and its interests" and that Paris will respond "immediately and firmly".
"Anyone who would attack the French citizens, army, diplomats and authorities would see how France would respond in an immediate and firm way. The President of the Republic will not tolerate any attack on France and its interests," the Elysee Palace said.
"France also supports all regional initiatives" aimed at "restoring constitutional order" and the return of elected president Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by the coup d'état.
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned "any violence against diplomatic properties, the security of which is the responsibility of the host state." "Nigerian forces have an obligation to ensure the security of our diplomatic and consular properties in accordance with the Vienna Conventions" and "we urge them to fulfill this obligation imposed by international law," said the Quai d'Orsay, whose embassy was targeted on Sunday morning by pro-military protesters who overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
Before the use of tear gas, some soldiers placed themselves in front of the embassy to calm down the protesters.
Some protesters insisted on entering the building, others tore down the sign reading "Embassy of France in Niger", then trampled it and replaced it with Russian and Niger flags.
France, Niger's ally in the fight against jihadists and for development, and which has 1,500 troops in the country, announced on Saturday that it was suspending aid in the wake of the military coup.
The protest began with a march to the National Assembly, with crowds waving Russian and Niger flags. The civil movement M62, which had already protested the French army's Operation Barkhane in the Sahel and Sahara, launched the call for protests.
Deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021, begins his fifth day sequestered in his private residence at the presidential palace by his close guard, whose leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, is the president of the National Council for the Salvation of the Fatherland (CNSP), the junta.
After Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger, undermined by attacks from groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda, is the third country in the region to suffer a coup since 2020.
