Thousands of people in Niamey gathered up outside the main stadium, when the call for civilian support for the armed forces went out.
The junta was aware of this initiative, according to the event’s organizer, but it was not a part of it. The Nigerien junta has received threats from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) about potential military action.
“I want to be a soldier for the love of my country. What’s more, Niger is our country. I want to commit myself to Niger. Long live Niger!”, Mamadou exclaimed. “I’ve heard there that they need 5,000 or 10,000 volunteer soldiers. That’s why I came here,” Abdoulaye who is a footballer also said.
Some parents brought their kids to sign up, while others claimed they had been waiting to answer a call from numerous organizations since three in the morning. Youths chanted in support of the junta and against ECOWAS and France; the nation’s former colonial power. The campaign, led by some Niamey residents, wanted to sign up tens of thousands of volunteers from all throughout the nation for the Volunteers for the Defense of Niger.
According to Amsarou Bako, one of the founders, the group will fight, help with medical treatment, and provide technical and engineering logistics among other things, in case the junta requires assistance.
“I’m a military mother, we’re waiting for you, young volunteers. From now until tomorrow, that’s what I had to say, wa-Allah. We’re waiting for you, I hope you’ll get us out of all these difficulties,” an activist who was not named told the cheering crowd.
Envoys from ECOWAS arrived in Niger on Saturday in an effort to continue talking to the junta. Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former head of state in the Nigerian military, was part of this group. On August 3, Mr. Abubakar traveled to Niamey in his capacity as an ECOWAS envoy, but he was unable to see the country’s new leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, or the ousted President, Mohammed Bazoum.
The Political Affairs and Security Commissioner for ECOWAS stressed that if talks broke down, a backup force would be ready to be sent.
ECOWAS Calls For Release Of Niger President
West African military leaders have demanded President Mohammed Bazoum of Niger’s unconditional release from detention.
The detained members of Mr. Bazoum’s cabinet and family were also demanded to be released by the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS).
The President, his family, and members of his government have been detained since Monday, July 26, according to the military junta in the Niger Republic.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security for ECOWAS, who made the call in Acora said; “ECOWAS was ready to go to Niger anytime the order is given”
According to him, troops across the region are ready to respond to the call of duty. “Operational troops are not disclosed, but they are ready equipment-wise, with political will and resources,” he added.
Ambassador Musa claimed that while ECOWAS was seeking to get the Republic of Niger back to constitutional government, it was not opposed to that country.
“We have not shut any door, sanctions are on the table, ready to accept dialogue but not any fruitless one. We are doing it ourselves. The coup in Niger is one coup too many for the region, and we are putting a stop to it.”
Ambassador Musah
As stated by Ambassador Musa, there will be a second and final CDS meeting, before to the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force in the Republic of Niger.
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