Thousands of supporters of the military junta in the Niger Republic on Sunday gathered at a stadium to show support for the regime.
The show of solidarity was held at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Niamey, as the one week deadline by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum draws closer.
In a video shared by LSI Africa,
a large crowd is seen cheering a delegation of members of the now-ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), a newly formed military council.
Many of the supporters waved Nigerien flags while some held Russian flags at the stadium named after Seyni Kountche, who led Niger’s first coup d’etat in 1974.
Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the presidential guard that overthrew Muhammad Bazoum, had said the coup was necessary to rid the country of “bad governance and worsening security”.
General Mohamed Toumba, one of the CNSP leaders, spoke against those “lurking in the shadows” who were “plotting subversion” against “the forward march of Niger”.
“We are aware of their Machiavellian plan,” Toumba said.
ECOWAS had given the Nigerien coup leaders a week from last Sunday to meet its demands of restoring order or face harder sanctions, including the use of force.
