VAM News Update

Thousands of supporters of the military junta that seized control in Niger in a coup have marched through the streets of the capital waving Russian flags and denouncing former colonial power France.

Demonstrators in Niamey converged on the French embassy and set fire to its doors, stoned the building and burned the country’s flags.

Russian mercenary group Wagner is already operating in neighbouring Mali and its boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has hailed the coup as good news and offered his fighters’ services.

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin would like to expand his country’s influence in the region.

However, it is unclear yet whether the new military leadership is going to shift towards Moscow or seek to stick with Niger’s Western allies.

It came as the West African regional bloc ECOWAS meeting at an emergency summit on Sunday gave the mutineers one week to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or face sanctions and the possible use of force.

The group warned it would take “all measures necessary” to restore the country’s democratically-elected government, while the African Union has also issued its own ultimatum.

Mr Bazoum was elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from France.

General Abdourahamane Tiani declared himself new head of state on Friday following the military takeover.