{"id":50693,"date":"2023-09-17T14:37:35","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T14:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/niger\/politique\/thousands-again-take-part-in-anti-french-protests-say-enough-is-enough"},"modified":"2023-09-17T15:05:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T15:05:01","slug":"thousands-again-take-part-in-anti-french-protests-say-enough-is-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/niger\/politique\/thousands-again-take-part-in-anti-french-protests-say-enough-is-enough","title":{"rendered":"Thousands again take part in anti-French protests, say ‘enough is enough’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Niger. <\/strong><\/span>A few thousand people have demonstrated in front of a military base housing French soldiers in Niamey, Niger’s capital to demand their departure from the French forces in the country. \u00ab\u00a0Enough is enough. All Macron has to do is take his ‘macronis’ and his clicks and clacs. All they have to do is go back to their so-called country, France,\u00a0\u00bb says Yahya Garba, a protester.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0People always say that we Africans are the last in the world. But we ask them to leave and they refuse. They are rotting over there, and we won’t give them peace until the day they leave\u00a0\u00bb Garba stressed.<\/p>\n

Rallies to protest the 1,500-strong French military presence have attracted tens of thousands of people to the airbase which hosts part of the former colonial power’s contingent near Niamey’s airport over the past three weeks.<\/p>\n

The Nigerien generals who seized power in a July 26 coup have denounced several cooperation accords with France and are demanding Paris withdraw its troops.<\/p>\n

But Paris does not recognise the legitimacy of the military regime and day and night almost without interruption citizen \u00ab\u00a0vigils\u00a0\u00bb camp out at Escadrille roundabout, the centre of the protest movement.<\/p>\n

There is a Saturday night atmosphere along the metal barriers guarded by an almost uninterrupted line of police and soldiers.<\/p>\n

Old men, hand-holding couples, young people wearing the national colours, groups of women, and street vendors all crowd the area under street lamps.<\/p>\n

An improvised market has taken root under a specially erected awning. Grilled corn, rice, couscous and tea are all on sale.<\/p>\n

– ‘Support my country’ –<\/b><\/p>\n

On one of those anti-French protests held September 10, Hafizou, who says he is 16, came along with a friend carrying a sleeping bag to stay late into the night.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0I am here to support my country,\u00a0\u00bb says Hafizou, caught up in a group of people blaring vuvuzela horns. \u00ab\u00a0I swear, I walked ten kilometres to get here – we shall never tire,\u00a0\u00bb insists Souleymane Abdou, a trader.<\/p>\n

Some drift into the protest camp like Mariama Oumarou, a private sector manager draped in a purple veil.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0My husband gives me permission to come to show that I am a true patriot,\u00a0\u00bb she says.<\/p>\n

The vigil offers a space for rare social exchange in a conservative society.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0It makes us feel good to be here. We meet people, exchange ideas, we talk about the crises we’ve just experienced,\u00a0\u00bb explains Mariama.<\/p>\n

But everyone is adamant they are primarily here to support the cause — forcing out France.<\/p>\n

The organisations behind the vigils are making sure they get participants onside, with one local association having promised to serve \u00ab\u00a01,000 meals a day.\u00a0\u00bb It has teams of people busy distributing meals in cardboard boxes.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Small businesses are growing, charitable people are preparing food to distribute for free. There is unparalleled determination,\u00a0\u00bb says Issaka Oumarou, who heads one association backing the military regime.<\/p>\n

– ‘Don’t need the French’ –<\/b><\/p>\n

The festive atmosphere contrasts with the angry slogan on everyone’s lips.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Down with France,\u00a0\u00bb down with its politics, its president and its soldiers.<\/p>\n

The French soldiers inside cannot hear the cacophony from their enclave, protected by a substantial security system.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0We don’t need the French. Our army can readily do the job without them,\u00a0\u00bb says one youth at the rally, Oumar.<\/p>\n