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Niger
Niger's coup leaders ask Russian mercenary group, Wagner, for help<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//08//05//ecowas-leaders-agree-plan-for-military-action-after-niger-coup-as-deadline-approaches/">ECOWAS leaders agree plan for military action after Niger coup as deadline approaches<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//08//01//what-could-the-military-coup-in-niger-mean-for-europe-and-the-west/">Niger crisis deepens as European nations evacuate, coup secures support from other juntas<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Two neighbouring countries, Mali and Burkina-Faso, who have both been subject to recent coups, strongly opposed ECOWAS moves and have promised military support for Niger in case of foreign intervention.<\/p>\n<p>There are also reports in Western media that the coup leaders in Niger have requested support from the Russian mercenary group Wagner.<\/p>\n<p>Niger has been seen as the West\u2019s last reliable counterterrorism partner in a region where coups have been common in recent years. Juntas have rejected former coloniser France and turned toward Russia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Wagner operates in a handful of African countries, including Mali, where human rights groups have accused its forces of deadly abuses.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1691270389,"publishedAt":1691307586,"updatedAt":1691323222,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/08\/06\/deadline-for-coup-leaders-in-niger-to-restore-civilian-government-expires-on-sunday","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/80\/04\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4af8d887-42a1-54c9-be69-3266d5a84704-7800478.jpg","altText":"Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather in Niamey, Niger.","caption":"Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather in Niamey, Niger.","captionCredit":"Sam Mednick\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"armstrong","title":"Mark Armstrong","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":11320,"slug":"ecowas","urlSafeValue":"ecowas","title":"ECOWAS","titleRaw":"ECOWAS"},{"id":28942,"slug":"coup-in-niger","urlSafeValue":"coup-in-niger","title":"Coup in Niger","titleRaw":"Coup in Niger"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"externalPartners":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":{"id":3706,"urlSafeValue":"niamey","title":"Niamey"},"grapeshot":"'gb_safe','gs_science','gs_science_geography','gs_busfin','gv_military','gs_politics','gs_busfin_indus'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"path":"\/2023\/08\/06\/deadline-for-coup-leaders-in-niger-to-restore-civilian-government-expires-on-sunday","lastModified":1691323222},{"id":2339390,"cid":7803408,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"230805_NWSU_52669179","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Niger's coup leaders ask Russian mercenary group, Wagner, for help","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger's coup leaders ask Russian mercenary group, Wagner, for help","titleListing2":"Niger's coup leaders ask Russian mercenary group, Wagner, for help","leadin":"Niger's military leaders have reportedly asked Russian mercenary group for help against a potential ECOWAS intervention.","summary":"Niger's military leaders have reportedly asked Russian mercenary group for help against a potential ECOWAS intervention.","url":"nigers-coup-leaders-ask-russian-mercenary-group-wagner-for-help","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Niger\u2019s new military junta has reportedly asked Russian mercenary group Wagner for help as the deadline approaches for it to release the country\u2019s ousted president or face possible military intervention by the West African regional bloc. \n\nA journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Centre, Wassim Nasr, told the Associated Press that the request was made during a visit by coup leader, General Salifou Mody, to neighboring Mali. \n\nNasr said three Malian sources and a French diplomat confirmed the meeting, which was first reported by French television station, France 24. \n\n\u201cThey need (Wagner) because they will become their guarantee to hold onto power,\u201d he said, adding that the group is believed to be considering the request. \n\nA Western military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment, told the AP they have also heard reports that the junta asked Wagner for help. \n\nNiger\u2019s junta faces a Sunday deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to release and reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. \n\nDefence chiefs from the regional group on Friday finalised an intervention plan and urged militaries to prepare resources. This after a mediation team sent to Niger on Thursday was not allowed to enter or meet with military government leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani. \n\nFrance\u2019s foreign affairs minister, Catherine Colonna, on Saturday said the threat of an intervention by ECOWAS was credible. \n\n\u201cThere's still a little time left for the putschists to give back power and listen to the unanimous demands of countries in the region and the international community,\u201d she said. \n\nNiger has been seen as the West\u2019s last reliable counterterrorism partner in a region where coups have been common in recent years.\u00a0 \n\n","htmlText":"<p><strong>Niger\u2019s new military junta has reportedly asked Russian mercenary group Wagner for help as the deadline approaches for it to release the country\u2019s ousted president or face possible military intervention by the West African regional bloc.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Centre, Wassim Nasr, told the Associated Press that the request was made during a visit by coup leader, General Salifou Mody, to neighboring Mali.<\/p>\n<p>Nasr said three Malian sources and a French diplomat confirmed the meeting, which was first reported by French television station, France 24.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey need (Wagner) because they will become their guarantee to hold onto power,\u201d he said, adding that the group is believed to be considering the request.<\/p>\n<p>A Western military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment, told the AP they have also heard reports that the junta asked Wagner for help.<\/p>\n<p>Niger\u2019s junta faces a Sunday deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to release and reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.<\/p>\n<p>Defence chiefs from the regional group on Friday finalised an intervention plan and urged militaries to prepare resources. This after a mediation team sent to Niger on Thursday was not allowed to enter or meet with military government leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani.<\/p>\n<p>France\u2019s foreign affairs minister, Catherine Colonna, on Saturday said the threat of an intervention by ECOWAS was credible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere's still a little time left for the putschists to give back power and listen to the unanimous demands of countries in the region and the international community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Niger has been seen as the West\u2019s last reliable counterterrorism partner in a region where coups have been common in recent years.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1691242485,"publishedAt":1691255512,"updatedAt":1691255884,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/08\/05\/nigers-coup-leaders-ask-russian-mercenary-group-wagner-for-help","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/80\/34\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_084e701c-d580-56dd-aff7-a7d4d64705e8-7803418.jpg","altText":"Protesters hold a Russian flag during a demonstration on independence day in Niger","caption":"Protesters hold a Russian flag during a demonstration on independence day in Niger","captionCredit":"AFP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":5568,"height":3712}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"},{"id":27254,"slug":"military-junta","urlSafeValue":"military-junta","title":"military junta","titleRaw":"military 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rally in Niger, denouncing France, as the country's new junta seeks to justify its coup","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Hundreds rally in Niger as country's new junta seeks to justify coup","titleListing2":"Hundreds rally in Niger, denouncing France, as the country's new junta seeks to justify its coup","leadin":"Hundreds demonstrated in support of the new regime in Niamey, as Niger's coup leaders and their supporters remain defiant as a deadline set by neighbouring regional countries to reinstate ousted President Mahomed Bazoum looms.","summary":"Hundreds demonstrated in support of the new regime in Niamey, as Niger's coup leaders and their supporters remain defiant as a deadline set by neighbouring regional countries to reinstate ousted President Mahomed Bazoum looms.","url":"hundreds-rally-in-niger-denouncing-france-as-the-countrys-new-junta-seeks-to-justify-its-c","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Hundreds of people rallied in support of Niger's ruling junta in the capital on Thursday, denouncing France and others who have criticised a recent coup \u2014 as the country\u2019s military leaders sought to exploit anti-Western sentiment to shore up their takeover. \n\nAs numbers began to swell at a demonstration organised by the junta and civil society groups on Niger's independence day, protesters in Niamey pumped their fists in the air and chanted out support for neighbouring countries that have also seen military takeovers in recent years. Some waved Russian flags, and one man brandished a Russian and Nigerien flag sewn together. \n\nLast week's coup toppled President Mohamed Bazoum \u2014 whose ascendency marked Niger\u2019s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France. It has been accompanied by strident anti-French sentiment and raised questions about the future of the fight against extremism in Africa's Sahel region, where Russia and Western countries have vied for influence. \n\nThe coup has been strongly condemned by Western countries and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which has threatened to use force to remove the junta if they don\u2019t hand back power to Bazoum. As tensions have grown in the capital and the region, many European countries have moved to evacuate their citizens. \n\nThe French embassy on Twitter said that the country evacuated 1,079 people, including\u00a0 577 French nationals.\u00a0 \n\nAt Thursday's protest, many expressed support for the coup leaders and denounced interference from others. \n\n\u201cFor more than 13 years, the Nigerien people have suffered injustices,\" said protester Moctar Abdou Issa. The junta \"will get us out of this, God willing \u2026 they will free the Nigerien people.\u201d \n\n\u201cWe\u2019re sick of the French,\u201d he added. \n\nIt remains unclear whether the majority of the population supports the coup \u2014 and in many parts of the capital, people went about their lives on Thursday as normal. \n\nIn an address to the nation on Wednesday, the new military ruler, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, lashed out at those who have condemned the coup and called on the population to be ready to defend the nation. \n\nTchiani said Niger will face difficult times ahead and that the \u201chostile and radical\u201d attitudes of those who oppose his rule provide no added value. He called harsh sanctions imposed last week by ECOWAS illegal, unfair, inhuman and unprecedented. \n\nThe bloc has set a deadline of 6 August for the junta to reinstate Bazoum, who remains under house arrest. Its sanctions include halting energy transactions with Niger, which gets up to 90% of its power from neighbouring Nigeria, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. \n\nIn a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, dozens of people from civil society organisations, professional groups and trade unions spoke with the coup leaders about their vision for the country. \n\n\u201cWe are talking about the immediate departure of all foreign forces,\u201d said Mahaman Sanoussi, interim coordinator for M62, an anti-French political alliance that organised Thursday\u2019s protest. \u201cThe dignity of the Nigerien people will be respected by all without exception.\u201d \n\nBut another civil society member at the gathering who refused to be named for security reasons said they left feeling concerned. They had a strong impression that the French military was going to be ousted soon and that members of civil society groups would help the junta do it. \n\nFrance has 1,500 soldiers in Niger who conduct joint operations with its military against jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, and the United States and other European countries have helped train the nation\u2019s troops. Niger was seen as the West\u2019s last reliable partner in the region, but some in the country see Russia and its Wagner mercenary group, which operates in a handful of African countries, as a powerful alternative. \n\nThe new junta has not said whether it intends to ally with Moscow or stick with Niger\u2019s Western partners, but that question has become central to the unfolding political crisis. Neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso \u2014 both ruled by juntas \u2014 have turned toward Moscow. \n\nAhead of Thursday's demonstration, the French Embassy in Niamey asked Niger's government to take all measures to ensure the security and protection of its premises after it was attacked by protesters a door was set on fire. \n\nThe French military said that five flights using its planes had evacuated more than 1,000 people this week, and France\u2019s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that its evacuation operation has ended. \n\nThe US State Department on Wednesday ordered what it said was the temporary departure of nonessential embassy staff and some family members from Niger as a precaution. It said its embassy would remain open. The Pentagon's press secretary said that the State Department had not requested US military assistance for the departure. \n\nUS President Joe Biden used the occasion of Niger's independence day to call for Bazoum to be released and democracy restored. \n\n\u201cThe Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders. They have expressed their will through free and fair elections \u2014 and that must be respected,\u201d he said in a statement Thursday. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Hundreds of people rallied in support of Niger's ruling junta in the capital on Thursday, denouncing France and others who have criticised a recent coup \u2014 as the country\u2019s military leaders sought to exploit anti-Western sentiment to shore up their takeover.<\/p>\n<p>As numbers began to swell at a demonstration organised by the junta and civil society groups on Niger's independence day, protesters in Niamey pumped their fists in the air and chanted out support for neighbouring countries that have also seen military takeovers in recent years. Some waved Russian flags, and one man brandished a Russian and Nigerien flag sewn together.<\/p>\n<p>Last week's coup toppled President Mohamed Bazoum \u2014 whose ascendency marked Niger\u2019s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France. It has been accompanied by strident anti-French sentiment and raised questions about the future of the fight against extremism in Africa's Sahel region, where Russia and Western countries have vied for influence.<\/p>\n<p>The coup has been strongly condemned by Western countries and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which has threatened to use force to remove the junta if they don\u2019t hand back power to Bazoum. As tensions have grown in the capital and the region, many European countries have moved to evacuate their citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The French embassy on Twitter said that the country evacuated 1,079 people, including\u00a0 577 French nationals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1687040209551032321\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>At Thursday's protest, many expressed support for the coup leaders and denounced interference from others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor more than 13 years, the Nigerien people have suffered injustices,\" said protester Moctar Abdou Issa. The junta \"will get us out of this, God willing \u2026 they will free the Nigerien people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re sick of the French,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>It remains unclear whether the majority of the population supports the coup \u2014 and in many parts of the capital, people went about their lives on Thursday as normal.<\/p>\n<p>In an address to the nation on Wednesday, the new military ruler, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, lashed out at those who have condemned the coup and called on the population to be ready to defend the nation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//79//89//98//808x454_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg/" alt=\"AP Photo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/384x216_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/640x360_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/750x422_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/828x466_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/1080x608_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/1200x675_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/1920x1080_cmsv2_11ae2d18-616e-511f-9ae6-40a5151179c6-7798998.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Worker of Red Cross take care of people evacuated from Niger at the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, north of Paris<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Tchiani said Niger will face difficult times ahead and that the \u201chostile and radical\u201d attitudes of those who oppose his rule provide no added value. He called harsh sanctions imposed last week by ECOWAS illegal, unfair, inhuman and unprecedented.<\/p>\n<p>The bloc has set a deadline of 6 August for the junta to reinstate Bazoum, who remains under house arrest. Its sanctions include halting energy transactions with Niger, which gets up to 90% of its power from neighbouring Nigeria, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.<\/p>\n<p>In a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, dozens of people from civil society organisations, professional groups and trade unions spoke with the coup leaders about their vision for the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are talking about the immediate departure of all foreign forces,\u201d said Mahaman Sanoussi, interim coordinator for M62, an anti-French political alliance that organised Thursday\u2019s protest. \u201cThe dignity of the Nigerien people will be respected by all without exception.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But another civil society member at the gathering who refused to be named for security reasons said they left feeling concerned. They had a strong impression that the French military was going to be ousted soon and that members of civil society groups would help the junta do it.<\/p>\n<p>France has 1,500 soldiers in Niger who conduct joint operations with its military against jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, and the United States and other European countries have helped train the nation\u2019s troops. Niger was seen as the West\u2019s last reliable partner in the region, but some in the country see Russia and its Wagner mercenary group, which operates in a handful of African countries, as a powerful alternative.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//79//89//98//808x454_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg/" alt=\"AP Photo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/384x216_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/640x360_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/750x422_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/828x466_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/1080x608_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/1200x675_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/1920x1080_cmsv2_b45bf95b-97a8-564e-b791-4ec293aacf89-7798998.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The new junta has not said whether it intends to ally with Moscow or stick with Niger\u2019s Western partners, but that question has become central to the unfolding political crisis. Neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso \u2014 both ruled by juntas \u2014 have turned toward Moscow.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of Thursday's demonstration, the French Embassy in Niamey asked Niger's government to take all measures to ensure the security and protection of its premises after it was attacked by protesters a door was set on fire.<\/p>\n<p>The French military said that five flights using its planes had evacuated more than 1,000 people this week, and France\u2019s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that its evacuation operation has ended.<\/p>\n<p>The US State Department on Wednesday ordered what it said was the temporary departure of nonessential embassy staff and some family members from Niger as a precaution. It said its embassy would remain open. The Pentagon's press secretary said that the State Department had not requested US military assistance for the departure.<\/p>\n<p>US President Joe Biden used the occasion of Niger's independence day to call for Bazoum to be released and democracy restored.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders. They have expressed their will through free and fair elections \u2014 and that must be respected,\u201d he said in a statement Thursday.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1691058363,"publishedAt":1691071492,"updatedAt":1691071926,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/08\/03\/hundreds-rally-in-niger-denouncing-france-as-the-countrys-new-junta-seeks-to-justify-its-c","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/98\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9a13f932-298a-50fc-90f2-2be75271d3a8-7798998.jpg","altText":"Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey.","caption":"Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey.","captionCredit":"AP 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","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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Mass rally in Niger in support of the recent coup with some people carrying Russian flags","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"WATCH: Mass rally in Niger in support of the recent coup","titleListing2":"WATCH: Mass rally in Niger in support of the recent coup with some people carrying Russian flags","leadin":"WATCH: Hundreds of people gather for a mass rally in the Niger capital Niamey in a show of support for the recent military coup with some brandishing giant Russian flags.","summary":"WATCH: Hundreds of people gather for a mass rally in the Niger capital Niamey in a show of support for the recent military coup with some brandishing giant Russian flags.","url":"watch-mass-rally-in-niger-in-support-of-the-recent-coup-with-some-people-carrying-russian-","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The demonstrators converged at Independence Square in the heart of the city, following a call by a coalition of civil society associations on a day marking the country's 1960 independence from France. \n\nThe coup has triggered alarm bells in Western countries struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency that flared in northern Mali in 2012, advanced into Niger and Burkina Faso three years later and now threatens the borders of fragile states on the Gulf of Guinea. \n\nFrance has some 1,500 troops in Niger in a bid to fight against jihadism in the Sahel. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The demonstrators converged at Independence Square in the heart of the city, following a call by a coalition of civil society associations on a day marking the country's 1960 independence from France.<\/p>\n<p>The coup has triggered alarm bells in Western countries struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency that flared in northern Mali in 2012, advanced into Niger and Burkina Faso three years later and now threatens the borders of fragile states on the Gulf of Guinea.<\/p>\n<p>France has some 1,500 troops in Niger in a bid to fight against jihadism in the Sahel.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1691057805,"publishedAt":1691061548,"updatedAt":1691062027,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/08\/03\/watch-mass-rally-in-niger-in-support-of-the-recent-coup-with-some-people-carrying-russian-","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/89\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_190c5a99-0a81-56e2-b02c-60300a682105-7798918.jpg","altText":"A Russian flag being brandished at the the rally in Niamey.","caption":"A Russian flag being brandished at the the rally in Niamey.","captionCredit":"AFP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":960,"height":540}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":28942,"slug":"coup-in-niger","urlSafeValue":"coup-in-niger","title":"Coup in Niger","titleRaw":"Coup in 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crisis deepens as European nations evacuate, coup secures support from other juntas","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger crisis deepens as European nations evacuate","titleListing2":"Niger was the leading supplier of uranium to Europe and a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in the region. Euronews asks Jean-Herv\u00e9 Jezequel from the International Crisis Group what regime change could mean for the West.","leadin":"Niger was the leading supplier of uranium to Europe and a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in the region. Euronews asks Jean-Herv\u00e9 Jezequel from the International Crisis Group what regime change could mean for the West.","summary":"Niger was the leading supplier of uranium to Europe and a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in the region. Euronews asks Jean-Herv\u00e9 Jezequel from the International Crisis Group what regime change could mean for the West.","url":"what-could-the-military-coup-in-niger-mean-for-europe-and-the-west","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A French military transport plane carrying Europeans from Niger arrived in Paris Wednesday, in the first such evacuation flight since mutinous soldiers ousted the country\u2019s democratically elected president nearly a week ago and shut its borders. \n\nFrance, Italy and Spain all announced evacuations from Niger for their citizens and other European nationals, concerned that they risked becoming trapped by the coup that won backing Tuesday from three other West African nations also ruled by mutinous soldiers. \n\nAbout 600 French nationals want to leave, along with 400 people of other nationalities from Belgians to Danes, French officials said. The first flight carried mostly French nationals, and officials hope to finish the evacuation flights by Wednesday. \n\nWith Niger's air space closed, France coordinated the evacuations with the regime that ousted the nation's leader, but without withdrawing its support for democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, diplomatic officials said. \n\nThe coup has raised fears that the West African nation, a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in the region, could pivot towards Russia. \n\nThe ousting of democratically-elected president Mohammed Bazoum has been widely condemned by the European Union, the United States, and from within Africa. \n\nUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the power grab, describing the move as \"deplorable\". \n\nJean-Herv\u00e9 Jezequel, Director for the Sahel Project at the International Crisis Group\u00a0told Euronews that while Niger is central to Western security efforts in the region, it is too early to say if it might turn to Russia or the Wagner Group. \n\n\"We know that Wagner is interested in developing its capacity in West Africa. We anticipate also that within the new military regime - if they were to stay in power - they will look for different allies and might be tempted to establish relations with Russia.\u00a0 \n\n\"It's a possibility that there is a change in alliance and that Russia might develop its capacity for Wagner in the region. But right now it's a sort of red flag that is very convenient to use in order to be in a stronger position when you negotiate,\" he said.\u00a0 \n\nThere are also concerns about the coup's potential impact on the import of uranium to power Europe's nuclear plants. \n\nAs the world's seventh largest producer of the chemical element, it supplies the EU with almost 25 per cent of its reserves. The French state-owned nuclear energy company Orana says nuclear power plants in France source less than 10% of their uranium from the African country. \n\nJezequel says the impact is not critical. \n\n\"France used to be much more dependent on Nigerian uranium in the past than it is today,\" he explained.\u00a0 \n\n\"There has been a diversification of access to uranium in the world, including Canada, and Khazakstan. So it's a different market than it was 20 or 30 years ago. It's still an important interest, but it's not central, vital to France as it used to be.\" \n\n","htmlText":"<p>A French military transport plane carrying Europeans from Niger arrived in Paris Wednesday, in the first such evacuation flight since mutinous soldiers ousted the country\u2019s democratically elected president nearly a week ago and shut its borders.<\/p>\n<p>France, Italy and Spain all announced evacuations from Niger for their citizens and other European nationals, concerned that they risked becoming trapped by the coup that won backing Tuesday from three other West African nations also ruled by mutinous soldiers.<\/p>\n<p>About 600 French nationals want to leave, along with 400 people of other nationalities from Belgians to Danes, French officials said. The first flight carried mostly French nationals, and officials hope to finish the evacuation flights by Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>With Niger's air space closed, France coordinated the evacuations with the regime that ousted the nation's leader, but without withdrawing its support for democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, diplomatic officials said.<\/p>\n<p>The coup has raised fears that the West African nation, a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in the region, could pivot towards Russia.<\/p>\n<p>The ousting of democratically-elected president Mohammed Bazoum has been widely condemned by the European Union, the United States, and from within Africa.<\/p>\n<p>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the power grab, describing the move as \"deplorable\".<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1684554296648499202\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Jean-Herv\u00e9 Jezequel, Director for the Sahel Project at the International Crisis Group\u00a0told Euronews that while Niger is central to Western security efforts in the region, it is too early to say if it might turn to Russia or the Wagner Group.<\/p>\n<p>\"We know that Wagner is interested in developing its capacity in West Africa. We anticipate also that within the new military regime - if they were to stay in power - they will look for different allies and might be tempted to establish relations with Russia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"It's a possibility that there is a change in alliance and that Russia might develop its capacity for Wagner in the region. But right now it's a sort of red flag that is very convenient to use in order to be in a stronger position when you negotiate,\" he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There are also concerns about the coup's potential impact on the import of uranium to power Europe's nuclear plants.<\/p>\n<p>As the world's seventh largest producer of the chemical element, it supplies the EU with almost 25 per cent of its reserves. The French state-owned nuclear energy company Orana says nuclear power plants in France source less than 10% of their uranium from the African country.<\/p>\n<p>Jezequel says the impact is not critical.<\/p>\n<p>\"France used to be much more dependent on Nigerian uranium in the past than it is today,\" he explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"There has been a diversification of access to uranium in the world, including Canada, and Khazakstan. So it's a different market than it was 20 or 30 years ago. It's still an important interest, but it's not central, vital to France as it used to be.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690791437,"publishedAt":1690898707,"updatedAt":1690957269,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/08\/01\/what-could-the-military-coup-in-niger-mean-for-europe-and-the-west","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/04\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4e226423-5975-5a28-b83c-dac8f95a2ba4-7790456.jpg","altText":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023","caption":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023","captionCredit":"Sam Mednick\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":4240,"height":2832},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/04\/62\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_cbdd6152-f7f1-5847-8572-2e7754fff895-7790462.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionCredit":"-\/AFP or licensors","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":5568,"height":3712}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"crook","title":"Glynis Crook","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"},{"id":9103,"slug":"raw-material","urlSafeValue":"raw-material","title":"Raw material","titleRaw":"Raw 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Bolton","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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countries to evacuate citizens from Niger as coup leaders get support from West African juntas","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger: France plans evacuation as coup leaders gather support","titleListing2":"EU countries to evacuate from Niger as West African juntas back coup","leadin":"France, Italy and Spain have announced plans to evacuate their citizens from Niger, days after a junta seized power in the country.","summary":"France, Italy and Spain have announced plans to evacuate their citizens from Niger, days after a junta seized power in the country.","url":"as-ecowas-threatens-intervention-in-niger-neighbouring-juntas-vow-mutual-defence","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"This comes as two other West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers, Mali and Burkina Faso, warned that any military intervention against the junta would be considered a \"declaration of war\". \n\nThe French Foreign Ministry in Paris cited recent violence that targeted the French Embassy in Niamey, the capital, as one of the reasons for the decision. \n\nThe closure of Niger's airspace also \u201cleaves our compatriots unable to leave the country by their own means,\u201d the ministry said. \n\nThe evacuation was starting Tuesday for French and European citizens who wish to leave, it said in a statement.\u00a0The German Foreign Ministry has urged German citizens in Niger to board the evacuation planes offered by the French authorities. \n\nItalian foreign minister Antonio Tajani announced\u00a0on Twitter that Italy would also arrange flights to evacuate its nationals from Niger's capital Niamey. \n\n\"The Italian government has decided to offer Italian nationals present in Niamey the possibility of leaving the city on a special flight to Italy. The Italian Embassy in Niamey will remain open and operational, also to contribute to the mediation efforts a course,\" Tajani said. \n\nLater on Tuesday, the Spanish foreign ministry confirmed it would evacuate 70 of its citizens from Niger by planes, given the absence of commercial flights. The evacuations will begin Tuesday and could be extended to other EU nationals. \n\nThe three EU countries' decisions to evacuate come amid a deepening crisis sparked by the coup last week against Niger\u2019s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. \n\nA European Commission spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that EU personnel in Niger\u2019s capital Niamey have been offered support to leave the city voluntarily, but that no decision on formally evacuating EU staff has yet been taken. \n\n\"The safety of EU citizens in Niger is our top priority,\" the spokesperson said. \n\nThe West African regional body known as ECOWAS announced travel and economic sanctions against Niger on Sunday and said it would use force if the coup leaders don\u2019t reinstate Bazoum within one week. Bazoum's government was one of the West\u2019s last democratic partners against West African extremists. \n\nThe European Commission confirmed that it had not yet received a request from ECOWAS to support travel and economic sanctions, but that it will analyse any request carefully,\u00a0\"with the purpose of determining of how best to respect the political commitments we have made.\" \n\nIn a joint statement, the military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso said that \"any military intervention against Niger will be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.\u201d \n\nCol. Abdoulaye Maiga, Mali's state minister for territorial administration and decentralization, read the statement on Malian state TV Monday evening. The two countries also denounced the ECOWAS economic sanctions as \u201cillegal, illegitimate and inhumane\u201d and refused to apply them. \n\nECOWAS suspended all commercial and financial transactions between its member states and Niger, as well as freezing Nigerien assets held in regional central banks. Niger relies heavily on foreign aid, and sanctions could further impoverish its more than 25 million people. \n\nMali and Burkina Faso have each undergone two coups since 2020, as soldiers overthrew governments claiming they could do a better job fighting increasing jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. ECOWAS has sanctioned both countries and suspended them from the bloc, but never threatened to use force. \n\nAlso on Sunday, Guinea, another country under military rule since 2021, issued a statement in support of Niger's junta and urged ECOWAS to \u201ccome to its senses.\"Two West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers said Monday that military intervention in Niger would be considered a \u201cdeclaration of war\u201d against them, as the junta attempts to consolidate power after a coup last week. \n\nIn anticipation of the ECOWAS decision Sunday, thousands of pro-junta supporters took to the streets in Niamey, denouncing France, waving Russian flags along with signs reading \u201cDown with France\u201d and supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and telling the international community to stay away. \n\nThere has been no clear explanation of the Russian symbols, but the country seems to have become a symbol of anti-Western feelings for demonstrators. \n\nProtesters also burned down a door and smashed windows at the French Embassy before the Nigerien army dispersed them. \n\nNiger could be following in the same footsteps as Mali and Burkina Faso, say analysts, both of which saw protestors waving Russian flags after their respective coups. After the second coup in Burkina Faso in September, protestors also attacked the French Embassy in the capital, Ouagadougou, and damaged and ransacked the Institut Francais, France's international cultural promotion organization. \n\nIf ECOWAS uses force, it could also trigger violence between civilians supporting the coup and those against it, Niger analysts say. \n\nWhile unlikely, \u201cthe consequences on civilians of such an approach, if putschists chose confrontation, would be catastrophic,\u201d said Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based think tank. \n\nLyammouri does not see a \u201cmilitary intervention happening because of the violence that could trigger,\u201d he said. \n\nBlinken on Sunday commended the resolve of the ECOWAS leadership to \u201cdefend constitutional order in Niger\u201d after the sanctions announcement and joined the bloc in calling for the immediate release of Bazoum and his family. \n\nAlso Sunday, junta spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane banned the use of social media to put out messages he describe as harmful to state security. He also claimed without evidence that Bazoum\u2019s government had authorized the French to carry out strikes to free Bazoum. \n\nObservers believe Bazoum is being held at his house in the capital, Niamey. The first photos of him since the coup appeared Sunday evening, sitting on a couch smiling beside Chad\u2019s President Mahamat Deby, who had flown in to mediate between the government and the junta. \n\nWorking with the West against extremism \n\nBoth the United States and France have sent troops and hundreds of millions of dollars of military and humanitarian aid in recent years to Niger, which was a French colony until 1960. The country was seen as the last working with the West against extremism in a Francophone region where anti-French sentiment had opened the way for the Russian private military group Wagner. \n\nAfter neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso ousted the French military and began working with Wagner mercenaries, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March to strengthen ties and announce $150 million in direct assistance, calling the country \u201ca model of democracy.\u201d \n\nThe US will consider cutting aid if the coup is successful, the State Department said Monday. Aid is \u201cvery much in the balance depending on the outcome of the actions in the country,\u201d said department spokesman Matt Miller. \u201cUS assistance hinges on continued democratic governance in Niger.\u201d \n\nFrance said Monday that President Emmanuel Macron is closely monitoring the situation in Niger and has discussed the crisis with regional leaders and European and international partners. \n\nThe sanctions could be disastrous and Niger needs to find a solution to avoid them, Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou told French media outlet Radio France Internationale on Sunday. \n\n\u201cWhen people say there\u2019s an embargo, land borders are closed, air borders are closed, it\u2019s extremely difficult for people ... Niger is a country that relies heavily on the international community,\u201d he said. \n\nIn the capital of Niger, many people live in makeshift shelters tied together with slats of wood, sheets and plastic tarps because they can\u2019t pay rent. They scramble daily to make enough money to feed their children. \n\nECOWAS mixed record \n\nSince the 1990s, the 15-nation ECOWAS has tried to protect democracies against the threat of coups, with mixed success. \n\nFour nations are run by military governments in West and Central Africa, where there have been nine successful or attempted coups since 2020. \n\nIn the 1990s, ECOWAS intervened in Liberia during its civil war, one of the bloodiest conflicts in Africa and one that left many wary of intervening in internal conflicts. In 2017, ECOWAS intervened in Gambia to prevent the new president\u2019s predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, from disrupting the handover of power. Around 7,000 troops from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal entered the country, according to the Global Observatory, which provides analysis of peace and security issues. The intervention was largely seen as accomplishing its mission. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>This comes as two other West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers, Mali and Burkina Faso, warned that any military intervention against the junta would be considered a \"declaration of war\".<\/p>\n<p>The French Foreign Ministry in Paris cited recent violence that targeted the French Embassy in Niamey, the capital, as one of the reasons for the decision.<\/p>\n<p>The closure of Niger's airspace also \u201cleaves our compatriots unable to leave the country by their own means,\u201d the ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>The evacuation was starting Tuesday for French and European citizens who wish to leave, it said in a statement.\u00a0The German Foreign Ministry has urged German citizens in Niger to board the evacuation planes offered by the French authorities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1686283486154350593\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani announced\u00a0on Twitter that Italy would also arrange flights to evacuate its nationals from Niger's capital Niamey.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1686291410964680705\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"The Italian government has decided to offer Italian nationals present in Niamey the possibility of leaving the city on a special flight to Italy. The Italian Embassy in Niamey will remain open and operational, also to contribute to the mediation efforts a course,\" Tajani said.<\/p>\n<p>Later on Tuesday, the Spanish foreign ministry confirmed it would evacuate 70 of its citizens from Niger by planes, given the absence of commercial flights. The evacuations will begin Tuesday and could be extended to other EU nationals.<\/p>\n<p>The three EU countries' decisions to evacuate come amid a deepening crisis sparked by the coup last week against Niger\u2019s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.<\/p>\n<p>A European Commission spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that EU personnel in Niger\u2019s capital Niamey have been offered support to leave the city voluntarily, but that no decision on formally evacuating EU staff has yet been taken.<\/p>\n<p>\"The safety of EU citizens in Niger is our top priority,\" the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p>The West African regional body known as ECOWAS announced travel and economic sanctions against Niger on Sunday and said it would use force if the coup leaders don\u2019t reinstate Bazoum within one week. Bazoum's government was one of the West\u2019s last democratic partners against West African extremists.<\/p>\n<p>The European Commission confirmed that it had not yet received a request from ECOWAS to support travel and economic sanctions, but that it will analyse any request carefully,\u00a0\"with the purpose of determining of how best to respect the political commitments we have made.\"<\/p>\n<p>In a joint statement, the military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso said that \"any military intervention against Niger will be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, Mali's state minister for territorial administration and decentralization, read the statement on Malian state TV Monday evening. The two countries also denounced the ECOWAS economic sanctions as \u201cillegal, illegitimate and inhumane\u201d and refused to apply them.<\/p>\n<p>ECOWAS suspended all commercial and financial transactions between its member states and Niger, as well as freezing Nigerien assets held in regional central banks. Niger relies heavily on foreign aid, and sanctions could further impoverish its more than 25 million people.<\/p>\n<p>Mali and Burkina Faso have each undergone two coups since 2020, as soldiers overthrew governments claiming they could do a better job fighting increasing jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. ECOWAS has sanctioned both countries and suspended them from the bloc, but never threatened to use force.<\/p>\n<p>Also on Sunday, Guinea, another country under military rule since 2021, issued a statement in support of Niger's junta and urged ECOWAS to \u201ccome to its senses.\"Two West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers said Monday that military intervention in Niger would be considered a \u201cdeclaration of war\u201d against them, as the junta attempts to consolidate power after a coup last week.<\/p>\n<p>In anticipation of the ECOWAS decision Sunday, thousands of pro-junta supporters took to the streets in Niamey, denouncing France, waving Russian flags along with signs reading \u201cDown with France\u201d and supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and telling the international community to stay away.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66796875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//79//24//00//808x539_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg/" alt=\"AP Photo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/384x257_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/640x428_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/750x501_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/828x553_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/1080x721_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/1200x802_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/1920x1283_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Nigeriens holding a Russian flag participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>There has been no clear explanation of the Russian symbols, but the country seems to have become a symbol of anti-Western feelings for demonstrators.<\/p>\n<p>Protesters also burned down a door and smashed windows at the French Embassy before the Nigerien army dispersed them.<\/p>\n<p>Niger could be following in the same footsteps as Mali and Burkina Faso, say analysts, both of which saw protestors waving Russian flags after their respective coups. After the second coup in Burkina Faso in September, protestors also attacked the French Embassy in the capital, Ouagadougou, and damaged and ransacked the Institut Francais, France's international cultural promotion organization.<\/p>\n<p>If ECOWAS uses force, it could also trigger violence between civilians supporting the coup and those against it, Niger analysts say.<\/p>\n<p>While unlikely, \u201cthe consequences on civilians of such an approach, if putschists chose confrontation, would be catastrophic,\u201d said Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based think tank.<\/p>\n<p>Lyammouri does not see a \u201cmilitary intervention happening because of the violence that could trigger,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66796875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//78//91//28//808x539_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg/" alt=\"AP Photo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/384x257_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/640x428_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/750x501_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/828x553_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1080x721_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1200x802_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1920x1283_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, pictured, in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Blinken on Sunday commended the resolve of the ECOWAS leadership to \u201cdefend constitutional order in Niger\u201d after the sanctions announcement and joined the bloc in calling for the immediate release of Bazoum and his family.<\/p>\n<p>Also Sunday, junta spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane banned the use of social media to put out messages he describe as harmful to state security. He also claimed without evidence that Bazoum\u2019s government had authorized the French to carry out strikes to free Bazoum.<\/p>\n<p>Observers believe Bazoum is being held at his house in the capital, Niamey. The first photos of him since the coup appeared Sunday evening, sitting on a couch smiling beside Chad\u2019s President Mahamat Deby, who had flown in to mediate between the government and the junta.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7490234375\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//79//24//00//808x603_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg/" alt=\"AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/384x288_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/640x479_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/750x562_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/828x620_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/1080x809_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/1200x899_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/1920x1438_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The first photos of ousted President Bazoum since the coup appeared Sunday evening, sitting on a couch smiling beside Chad President Mahamat Deby, July 30, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3>Working with the West against extremism<\/h3><p>Both the United States and France have sent troops and hundreds of millions of dollars of military and humanitarian aid in recent years to Niger, which was a French colony until 1960. The country was seen as the last working with the West against extremism in a Francophone region where anti-French sentiment had opened the way for the Russian private military group Wagner.<\/p>\n<p>After neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso ousted the French military and began working with Wagner mercenaries, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March to strengthen ties and announce $150 million in direct assistance, calling the country \u201ca model of democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The US will consider cutting aid if the coup is successful, the State Department said Monday. Aid is \u201cvery much in the balance depending on the outcome of the actions in the country,\u201d said department spokesman Matt Miller. \u201cUS assistance hinges on continued democratic governance in Niger.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1685787484309917696\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>France said Monday that President Emmanuel Macron is closely monitoring the situation in Niger and has discussed the crisis with regional leaders and European and international partners.<\/p>\n<p>The sanctions could be disastrous and Niger needs to find a solution to avoid them, Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou told French media outlet Radio France Internationale on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen people say there\u2019s an embargo, land borders are closed, air borders are closed, it\u2019s extremely difficult for people ... Niger is a country that relies heavily on the international community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>In the capital of Niger, many people live in makeshift shelters tied together with slats of wood, sheets and plastic tarps because they can\u2019t pay rent. They scramble daily to make enough money to feed their children.<\/p>\n<h3>ECOWAS mixed record<\/h3><p>Since the 1990s, the 15-nation ECOWAS has tried to protect democracies against the threat of coups, with mixed success.<\/p>\n<p>Four nations are run by military governments in West and Central Africa, where there have been nine successful or attempted coups since 2020.<\/p>\n<p>In the 1990s, ECOWAS intervened in Liberia during its civil war, one of the bloodiest conflicts in Africa and one that left many wary of intervening in internal conflicts. In 2017, ECOWAS intervened in Gambia to prevent the new president\u2019s predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, from disrupting the handover of power. Around 7,000 troops from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal entered the country, according to the Global Observatory, which provides analysis of peace and security issues. The intervention was largely seen as accomplishing its mission.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690839020,"publishedAt":1690876273,"updatedAt":1690901476,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2023\/08\/01\/as-ecowas-threatens-intervention-in-niger-neighbouring-juntas-vow-mutual-defence","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/09\/98\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e5b254df-1b3f-58e9-833c-47a2fccd0fd4-7790998.jpg","altText":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023.","caption":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023.","captionCredit":"AP Photo","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":684},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f1556fec-dd7d-5265-814c-ff35837981a1-7792400.jpg","altText":"Nigeriens holding a Russian flag participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023. ","caption":"Nigeriens holding a Russian flag participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023. ","captionCredit":"AP Photo","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":684},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/79\/24\/00\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c9f376ce-3d77-500a-abf5-97b42e21d6d0-7792400.jpg","altText":"The first photos of ousted President Bazoum since the coup appeared Sunday evening, sitting on a couch smiling beside Chad President Mahamat Deby, July 30, 2023","caption":"The first photos of ousted President Bazoum since the coup appeared Sunday evening, sitting on a couch smiling beside Chad President Mahamat Deby, July 30, 2023","captionCredit":" AFP PHOTO \/ FACEBOOK 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","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"My Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"My Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe 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Protesters in Niger denounce France, wave the Russian flag","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Watch: Protesters in Niger denounce France, wave the Russian flag","titleListing2":"Thousands of supporters of the junta that took over Niger in a coup earlier this week marched through the streets of Niamey, on Sunday waving Russian flags, chanting the name of the Russian president and forcefully denouncing former colonial power France.","leadin":"Thousands of supporters of the junta that took over Niger in a coup earlier this week marched through the streets of Niamey, on Sunday waving Russian flags, chanting the name of the Russian president and forcefully denouncing former colonial power France.","summary":"Thousands of supporters of the junta that took over Niger in a coup earlier this week marched through the streets of Niamey, on Sunday waving Russian flags, chanting the name of the Russian president and forcefully denouncing former colonial power France.","url":"watch-protesters-in-niger-denounce-france-wave-the-russian-flag","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Days after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger\u2019s democratically elected president, uncertainty is mounting about the country\u2019s future and some are calling out the junta\u2019s reasons for seizing control. \n\nThe mutineers said they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger\u2019s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from France, because he wasn\u2019t able to secure the nation from growing jihadi violence.\u00a0 \n\nBut some analysts and Nigeriens say that\u2019s just a pretext for a takeover that is more about internal power struggles than securing the nation. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Days after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger\u2019s democratically elected president, uncertainty is mounting about the country\u2019s future and some are calling out the junta\u2019s reasons for seizing control.<\/p>\n<p>The mutineers said they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger\u2019s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from France, because he wasn\u2019t able to secure the nation from growing jihadi violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But some analysts and Nigeriens say that\u2019s just a pretext for a takeover that is more about internal power struggles than securing the nation.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690725842,"publishedAt":1690795341,"updatedAt":1690796530,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/07\/31\/watch-protesters-in-niger-denounce-france-wave-the-russian-flag","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/92\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f66be062-b698-53c9-b67a-53cccbafda4d-7789278.jpg","altText":"Protesters in Niger.","caption":"Protesters in Niger.","captionCredit":"AFP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":117,"slug":"france","urlSafeValue":"france","title":"France","titleRaw":"France"},{"id":12357,"slug":"emmanuel-macron","urlSafeValue":"emmanuel-macron","title":"Emmanuel Macron","titleRaw":"Emmanuel Macron"},{"id":412,"slug":"paris","urlSafeValue":"paris","title":"Paris","titleRaw":"Paris"},{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2334494},{"id":2334556},{"id":2334734}],"technicalTags":[],"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":7706466,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NC\/SU\/23\/07\/30\/en\/230730_NCSU_52602872_52602982_60000_161546_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":11793250,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NC\/SU\/23\/07\/30\/en\/230730_NCSU_52602872_52602982_60000_161546_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8mwelr","youtubeId":"Xh73FrL4wls"},"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"no comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_military','gb_safe','gt_negative','gs_busfin','gs_business','gs_busfin_indus','gs_politics_misc','gs_economy','gs_economy_misc'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/video\/2023\/07\/31\/watch-protesters-in-niger-denounce-france-wave-the-russian-flag","lastModified":1690796530},{"id":2334598,"cid":7789128,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":"230730_NWSU_52602176","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"France warns attacks on its interests in Niger will not be tolerated","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"France warns attacks on its interests in Niger will not be tolerated","titleListing2":"France warns attacks on its interests in Niger will not be tolerated","leadin":"Protesters vandalised the French embassy in Niamey after a military junta moved to seize power in the aid- and security-dependent West African nation.","summary":"Protesters vandalised the French embassy in Niamey after a military junta moved to seize power in the aid- and security-dependent West African nation.","url":"france-warns-attacks-on-its-interests-in-niger-will-not-be-tolerated","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Emmanuel Macron \"will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests\" in Niger and Paris will retaliate \"immediately and uncompromisingly\", the French government said on Sunday, as thousands demonstrated outside the French embassy in Niamey in support of an ongoing military coup. \n\n\"Anyone attacking French nationals, the army, diplomats or French bases would see France retaliate immediately and intractably,\" the Elys\u00e9e Palace warned in a statement. \"The President of the Republic will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests.\" \n\nAccording to the Quai d'Orsay, 500 to 600 French nationals are currently in Niger. \n\n\"France also supports all regional initiatives aimed at \"restoring constitutional order\" and the return of the elected president Mohamed Bazoum, the palace added. \n\nStorming the embassy \n\nThe French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned \"any violence against diplomatic compounds, the security of which is the responsibility of the host state\". \n\nFrance is Niger's key development and security ally, and currently has 1,500 soldiers there. But following the coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, it announced on Saturday that it was suspending its aid to the country. \n\nThousands of people have demonstrated outside the French embassy in Niamey, where they were ultimately dispersed with tear gas. \n\nSome tried to enter the building, while others tore down the plaque reading \"French Embassy in Niger\" before trampling it on the tarmac and replacing it with Russian and Nigerien flags. \n\nWagner influence \n\nDemonstrators in Niger are openly resentful of France, and Russia is seen by some as a powerful alternative. The nature of Russia's involvement in the rallies, if any, isn't clear but some protesters have carried Russian flags, along with signs reading \"Down with France\" and supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin. \n\nThe Russian mercenary group Wagner is operating in neighbouring Mali, and under Putin Russia has expanded its influence in West Africa. The new junta's leaders have not said whether they intend to ally themselves with Moscow or stick with Niger's Western partners. \n\nThe protest was convened by the civil movement M62, which objects to the French army's Barkhane operation in the Sahel and Sahara. \n\nEmergency meeting \n\nAt an emergency meeting on Sunday, the West African bloc known as ECOWAS said that it was suspending relations with Niger, and authorised the use of force if President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week. The African Union has issued its own 15-day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the democratically elected government. \n\nShortly after the ECOWAS meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, Chadian President Mahamat Deby arrived in Niger to lead mediation efforts, according to the Chad state radio station. \n\nECOWAS has struggled to make a definitive impact on the region's political crises in the past but Bazoum was democratically elected two years ago in Niger's first peaceful transfer of power since independence from France in 1960. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Emmanuel Macron \"will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests\" in Niger and Paris will retaliate \"immediately and uncompromisingly\", the French government said on Sunday, as thousands demonstrated outside the French embassy in Niamey in support of an ongoing military coup.<\/p>\n<p>\"Anyone attacking French nationals, the army, diplomats or French bases would see France retaliate immediately and intractably,\" the Elys\u00e9e Palace warned in a statement. \"The President of the Republic will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests.\"<\/p>\n<p>According to the Quai d'Orsay, 500 to 600 French nationals are currently in Niger.<\/p>\n<p>\"France also supports all regional initiatives aimed at \"restoring constitutional order\" and the return of the elected president Mohamed Bazoum, the palace added.<\/p>\n<h2>Storming the embassy<\/h2><p>The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned \"any violence against diplomatic compounds, the security of which is the responsibility of the host state\".<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66796875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//78//91//28//808x539_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg/" alt=\"Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/384x257_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/640x428_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/750x501_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/828x553_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1080x721_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1200x802_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1920x1283_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, pictured, in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>France is Niger's key development and security ally, and currently has 1,500 soldiers there. But following the coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, it announced on Saturday that it was suspending its aid to the country.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of people have demonstrated outside the French embassy in Niamey, where they were ultimately dispersed with tear gas.<\/p>\n<p>Some tried to enter the building, while others tore down the plaque reading \"French Embassy in Niger\" before trampling it on the tarmac and replacing it with Russian and Nigerien flags.<\/p>\n<h2>Wagner influence<\/h2><div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66796875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//78//91//28//808x539_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg/" alt=\"Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/384x257_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/640x428_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/750x501_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/828x553_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1080x721_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1200x802_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/1920x1283_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Demonstrators in Niger are openly resentful of France, and Russia is seen by some as a powerful alternative. The nature of Russia's involvement in the rallies, if any, isn't clear but some protesters have carried Russian flags, along with signs reading \"Down with France\" and supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n<p>The Russian mercenary group Wagner is operating in neighbouring Mali, and under Putin Russia has expanded its influence in West Africa. The new junta's leaders have not said whether they intend to ally themselves with Moscow or stick with Niger's Western partners.<\/p>\n<p>The protest was convened by the civil movement M62, which objects to the French army's Barkhane operation in the Sahel and Sahara.<\/p>\n<h2>Emergency meeting<\/h2><p>At an emergency meeting on Sunday, the West African bloc known as ECOWAS said that it was suspending relations with Niger, and authorised the use of force if President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week. The African Union has issued its own 15-day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the democratically elected government.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the ECOWAS meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, Chadian President Mahamat Deby arrived in Niger to lead mediation efforts, according to the Chad state radio station.<\/p>\n<p>ECOWAS has struggled to make a definitive impact on the region's political crises in the past but Bazoum was democratically elected two years ago in Niger's first peaceful transfer of power since independence from France in 1960.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690720381,"publishedAt":1690720953,"updatedAt":1690781585,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/07\/30\/france-warns-attacks-on-its-interests-in-niger-will-not-be-tolerated","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c94e25ef-7459-570e-936c-3a2892600b54-7789128.jpg","altText":"Protesters hold a sign taken from the French Embassy in Niamey during a demonstration that followed a rally in support of Niger's junta.","caption":"Protesters hold a sign taken from the French Embassy in Niamey during a demonstration that followed a rally in support of Niger's junta.","captionCredit":"AFP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":5568,"height":3131},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bc1a12a7-b279-5356-bc83-7f99c94807c6-7789128.jpg","altText":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, pictured, in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023.","caption":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, pictured, in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023.","captionCredit":"Sam Mednick\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":684},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/91\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_daba2f84-870a-57cb-b8a4-c6e3346028ca-7789128.jpg","altText":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023","caption":"Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023","captionCredit":"Sam Mednick\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":684}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":28942,"slug":"coup-in-niger","urlSafeValue":"coup-in-niger","title":"Coup in Niger","titleRaw":"Coup in Niger"},{"id":12357,"slug":"emmanuel-macron","urlSafeValue":"emmanuel-macron","title":"Emmanuel Macron","titleRaw":"Emmanuel Macron"},{"id":117,"slug":"france","urlSafeValue":"france","title":"France","titleRaw":"France"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"euronews.byenglishwebteam"},{"path":"euronews"}],"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":20000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":0,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/07\/31\/en\/230731_NWSU_52604524_52604550_95000_070233_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":20000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":0,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/07\/31\/en\/230731_NWSU_52604524_52604550_95000_070233_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"0hvgMfZtDN8"},"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AFP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'neg_facebook_2021','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','sm_politics','gs_politics_misc','gs_science_geography','neg_facebook_q4','neg_nespresso','neg_saudiaramco','shadow9hu7_pos_ukrainecrisis','gt_negative','gv_terrorism','gt_negative_fear','gs_auto','gb_terrorism_high_med','gb_terrorism_high_med_low','gb_terrorism_news-ent'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2023\/07\/30\/france-warns-attacks-on-its-interests-in-niger-will-not-be-tolerated","lastModified":1690781585},{"id":2333710,"cid":7786882,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"230729_NWSU_52593658","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"EU suspends all security cooperation with Niger in wake of military coup","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"EU suspends all security cooperation with Niger in wake of military co","titleListing2":"The US has said it will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the West African country. The European Union says it will not.","leadin":"The US has said it will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the West African country. The European Union will not.","summary":"The US has said it will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the West African country. The European Union will not.","url":"general-tchiani-names-himself-president-of-niger-after-military-coup","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The European Union says it is suspending \"all cooperation activities in the field of security\" with Niger with immediate effect just days after the army ousted the government in a military coup.\u00a0 \n\nNiger's president, Mohammed Bazoum, \"was\u00a0democratically elected and therefore he is and remains the only legitimate\u00a0president of the country,\"\u00a0EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said on Saturday.\u00a0 \n\nBorell also called for the \"immediate and unconditional release\" of the president and his family and\u00a0said the EU was ready to support future decisions taken by West Africa\u2019s regional bloc, \u201cincluding the adoption of sanctions\u201d. \n\nThe announcement will be a severe blow to Niger, which has been a major recipient of Western aid, as an ally in the fight against jihadist insurgencies which have been destabilising the wider Sahel region. \n\nWhat happened on Wednesday? \n\nIn Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, declared himself \"the President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland\" earlier this week.\u00a0 \n\nIn his radio address, Tchiani said that he organised the coup with the assistance of the Presidential Guard, which he's been commanding since 2011.\u00a0 \n\nIn their first act as coup leaders, they held their first meeting with government officials, suspended the country's constitution, and warned against potential military intervention. \n\nTchiani explained that the reasons behind the coup have to do with the current president Mohamed Bazoum's policy to fight regional terrorism and, in general, the overall security situation in the country. \n\nAccording to him, the country needed to change course to avoid \u201cgradual and inevitable demise\u201d. Some experts gave a more straightforward reason: Bazoum allegedly planned to dismiss Tchiani.\u00a0 \n\nInternational support for Niger's first democratically elected leader\u00a0 \n\nWestern leaders have strongly condemned Tchiani's actions. The ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, was elected just two years ago after the first-ever free, democratic, internationally recognized elections in Niger's postcolonial history. Bazoum and his family are presumably held in their residence.\u00a0 \n\nBazoum's last appearance was his post on social media on Thursday morning, where he called to protect the \"hard-won democracy\". In particular, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Bazoum can count on the \"unfailing support\" of the United States. \n\nThe European Union has warned to cut its aid to Niger. In turn, the United Nations says humanitarian aid will continue despite the recent coup, although humanitarian assistance fights have been suspended because of the closed airspace in the country. \n\nSimilar situation in neighbouring countries \n\nThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is planning an emergency meeting on Sunday in the capital of Nigeria. ECOWAS countries leaders have expressed concern about the increased number of coups in the region in recent years.\u00a0 \n\nMali and Burkina-Faso, two countries bordering Niger, and sharing the same jihadist-related problems, have experienced several coups since 2020. \n\nSo far, the situation on the ground remains relatively calm. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The European Union says it is suspending \"all cooperation activities in the field of security\" with Niger with immediate effect just days after the army ousted the government in a military coup.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Niger's president, Mohammed Bazoum, \"was\u00a0democratically elected and therefore he is and remains the only legitimate\u00a0president of the country,\"\u00a0EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Borell also called for the \"immediate and unconditional release\" of the president and his family and\u00a0said the EU was ready to support future decisions taken by West Africa\u2019s regional bloc, \u201cincluding the adoption of sanctions\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement will be a severe blow to Niger, which has been a major recipient of Western aid, as an ally in the fight against jihadist insurgencies which have been destabilising the wider Sahel region.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1685217384057991168\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3><strong>What happened on Wednesday?<\/strong><\/h3><p>In Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, declared himself \"the President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland\" earlier this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In his radio address, Tchiani said that he organised the coup with the assistance of the Presidential Guard, which he's been commanding since 2011.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In their first act as coup leaders, they held their first meeting with government officials, suspended the country's constitution, and warned against potential military intervention.<\/p>\n<p>Tchiani explained that the reasons behind the coup have to do with the current president Mohamed Bazoum's policy to fight regional terrorism and, in general, the overall security situation in the country.<\/p>\n<p>According to him, the country needed to change course to avoid \u201cgradual and inevitable demise\u201d. Some experts gave a more straightforward reason: Bazoum allegedly planned to dismiss Tchiani.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><strong>International support for Niger's first democratically elected leader<\/strong><\/h3><p>Western leaders have strongly condemned Tchiani's actions. The ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, was elected just two years ago after the first-ever free, democratic, internationally recognized elections in Niger's postcolonial history. Bazoum and his family are presumably held in their residence.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Bazoum's last appearance was his post on social media on Thursday morning, where he called to protect the \"hard-won democracy\". In particular, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Bazoum can count on the \"unfailing support\" of the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The European Union has warned to cut its aid to Niger. In turn, the United Nations says humanitarian aid will continue despite the recent coup, although humanitarian assistance fights have been suspended because of the closed airspace in the country.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Similar situation in neighbouring countries<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is planning an emergency meeting on Sunday in the capital of Nigeria. ECOWAS countries leaders have expressed concern about the increased number of coups in the region in recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mali and Burkina-Faso, two countries bordering Niger, and sharing the same jihadist-related problems, have experienced several coups since 2020.<\/p>\n<p>So far, the situation on the ground remains relatively calm.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690587173,"publishedAt":1690626746,"updatedAt":1690638752,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/07\/29\/general-tchiani-names-himself-president-of-niger-after-military-coup","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/54\/94\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4f085fcb-c043-55de-b75e-3e19c739822d-7785494.jpg","altText":"With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023. ","caption":"With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023. ","captionCredit":"Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou\/AP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":3000,"height":1945}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":3,"slug":"africa","urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa","titleRaw":"Africa"},{"id":98,"slug":"eu-africa","urlSafeValue":"eu-africa","title":"EU-Africa","titleRaw":"EU-Africa"},{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"},{"id":12357,"slug":"emmanuel-macron","urlSafeValue":"emmanuel-macron","title":"Emmanuel Macron","titleRaw":"Emmanuel Macron"},{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"twitter","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2332640},{"id":2333300},{"id":2333384}],"technicalTags":[],"video":1,"videos":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8mv370"},"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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Niger ruling party HQ torched by coup supporters","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"WATCH: Niger ruling party HQ torched by coup supporters","titleListing2":"Niger's armed forces chief on Thursday declared his support for troops who said they had overthrown the government, despite a defiant stand by the country's elected president and an outcry from the world community.","leadin":"Niger's armed forces chief on Thursday declared his support for troops who said they had overthrown the government, despite a defiant stand by the country's elected president and an outcry from the world community.","summary":"Niger's armed forces chief on Thursday declared his support for troops who said they had overthrown the government, despite a defiant stand by the country's elected president and an outcry from the world community.","url":"watch-niger-ruling-party-hq-torched-by-coup-supporters","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"This as President Mohamed Bazoum is confined at his residence by members of his presidential guard. \n\n\nLate in the evening, their leaders, calling themselves the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), declared they had \"decided to put an end to the regime,\" and all institutions were being suspended, the borders closed and a night-time curfew imposed. \n\nArmed Forces chief General Abdou Sidikou Issa on Thursday swung his weight behind the putschists. \n\n\"The military command... has decided to subscribe to the declaration made by the Defence and Security Forces... in order to avoid a deadly confrontation,\" he said in a statement. \n\nEarlier, Bazoum defiantly stood his ground as the condemnation of the putsch swelled from African and international organisations and allies France and the United States. \n\nPro-coup demonstrations \n\nSeveral hundred people in Niamey and a similar number in the town of Dosso took part in shows of support for the coup leaders, AFP journalists saw. \n\nIn scenes redolent of what happened in Mali following a coup there in 2020, some held Russian flags and chanted anti-French and pro-Russian slogans. \n\n\"France was unable to take care of our problems - we need to take our destiny in hand,\" said their leader, who gave his name as Issouf and said he worked in a garage. \n\nYouths from the gathering in Niamey went to the headquarters of Bazoum's PNDS party and ransacked it, setting fire to cars. \n\nThe coup leader appeared on national television urging \"the population to remain calm\", after the violence. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>This as President Mohamed Bazoum is confined at his residence by members of his presidential guard. <\/p>\n<p>Late in the evening, their leaders, calling themselves the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), declared they had \"decided to put an end to the regime,\" and all institutions were being suspended, the borders closed and a night-time curfew imposed.<\/p>\n<p>Armed Forces chief General Abdou Sidikou Issa on Thursday swung his weight behind the putschists.<\/p>\n<p>\"The military command... has decided to subscribe to the declaration made by the Defence and Security Forces... in order to avoid a deadly confrontation,\" he said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, Bazoum defiantly stood his ground as the condemnation of the putsch swelled from African and international organisations and allies France and the United States.<\/p>\n<h2>Pro-coup demonstrations<\/h2><p>Several hundred people in Niamey and a similar number in the town of Dosso took part in shows of support for the coup leaders, AFP journalists saw.<\/p>\n<p>In scenes redolent of what happened in Mali following a coup there in 2020, some held Russian flags and chanted anti-French and pro-Russian slogans.<\/p>\n<p>\"France was unable to take care of our problems - we need to take our destiny in hand,\" said their leader, who gave his name as Issouf and said he worked in a garage.<\/p>\n<p>Youths from the gathering in Niamey went to the headquarters of Bazoum's PNDS party and ransacked it, setting fire to cars.<\/p>\n<p>The coup leader appeared on national television urging \"the population to remain calm\", after the violence.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690543702,"publishedAt":1690550167,"updatedAt":1690550644,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/07\/28\/watch-niger-ruling-party-hq-torched-by-coup-supporters","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/55\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5f63f3f1-83b0-5f59-9850-4ebf27d3e605-7785558.jpg","altText":"With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023. ","caption":"With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023. ","captionCredit":"Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":664},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/55\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_362c2882-d59b-5edd-a6e2-a0ea51b1089d-7785578.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"height":900}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":28942,"slug":"coup-in-niger","urlSafeValue":"coup-in-niger","title":"Coup in Niger","titleRaw":"Coup in Niger"},{"id":26602,"slug":"military-forces","urlSafeValue":"military-forces","title":"military forces","titleRaw":"military forces"},{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"},{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":7787333,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NC\/SU\/23\/07\/28\/en\/230728_NCSU_52585683_52585777_60000_133311_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":11988293,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NC\/SU\/23\/07\/28\/en\/230728_NCSU_52585683_52585777_60000_133311_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8mui9k","youtubeId":"vgVxxudxXWI"},"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AFP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"no comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','gs_science','gs_science_geography','gs_busfin','neg_facebook_2021','gs_politics','neg_facebook_q4','neg_facebook','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics_issues_policy','sm_politics','gs_busfin_indus','shadow9hu7_pos_ukrainecrisis','neg_intel_en','gv_military','gs_busfin_indus_defense','gb_crime_edu','gb_crime_high_med_low'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/video\/2023\/07\/28\/watch-niger-ruling-party-hq-torched-by-coup-supporters","lastModified":1690550644},{"id":2332640,"cid":7783648,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"230727_NWSU_52577178","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Niger's president vows democracy will prevail after mutinous soldiers detain him and declare a coup","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger's president vows democracy will prevail after coup declared","titleListing2":"Niger's president vows democracy will prevail after mutinous soldiers detain him and declare a coup","leadin":"Niger's president defiantly declared Thursday that democracy would prevail, a day after mutinous soldiers detained him and announced they had seized power in a coup over the West African country\u2019s deteriorating security situation.","summary":"Niger's president defiantly declared Thursday that democracy would prevail, a day after mutinous soldiers detained him and announced they had seized power in a coup over the West African country\u2019s deteriorating security situation.","url":"nigers-president-vows-democracy-will-prevail-after-mutinous-soldiers-detain-him-and-declar","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"While many people in the capital of Niamey went about their usual business, it remained unclear who was in control of the country and which side the majority might support. A statement tweeted by the army command\u2019s account declared that it would back the coup in order to avoid a \u201cmurderous confrontation\u201d that could lead to a \u201cbloodbath.\u201d It was not possible to confirm that the statement was genuine. \n\nMeanwhile, President Mohamed Bazoum - who was elected in 2021 in Niger\u2019s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France and is a key ally of the West - appeared to have the backing of several political parties. \n\n\u201cThe hard-won achievements will be safeguarded. All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom will see to it,\u201d Bazoum tweeted early Thursday morning. \n\nForeign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou issued a similar call on news network France 24, asking \u201call Nigerien democratic patriots to stand up as one to say no to this factious action.\u201d \n\nHe demanded the president's unconditional release and said talks were ongoing. \n\nU.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who spoke to Bazoum by phone on Wednesday, said in a statement that he was \u201cextremely worried\u201d about the situation in Niger and warned of the \u201cterrible effects on development\u201d and civilians due to \u201csuccessive unconstitutional changes of government in the Sahel region.\u201d \n\nThe Economic Community of West African States regional grouping sent Benin President Patrice Talon to lead mediation efforts. \n\nBazoum is a key ally in the West's efforts to battle jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in Africa's Sahel region. Extremists in Niger have carried out attacks on civilians and military personnel, but the overall security situation is not as dire as in neighbouring nations. \n\nThe fight against extremism in the region has become a major arena in which the West and Russia have vied for influence. \n\nBazoum was seen by many as the West's last hope for partnership in the Sahel after Mali turned away from former colonial power France and instead sought support from the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Wagner appears to be making inroads in Burkina Faso as well. \n\nWestern countries have poured aid into Niger, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited in March, seeking to strengthen ties. American, French and Italian troops train the country's soldiers, while France also conducts joint operations. \n\nBut the threat to Bazoum has raised concerns that Niger could also turn away from the West. \n\nOn Thursday, several hundred people gathered in the capital and chanted support for Wagner while waving Russian flags. Later, they began throwing rocks at a passing politician's car. \n\n\u201cIf Mohamed Bazoum resigns from the presidency, Niger will probably move to the top of the list of countries where the Wagner Group will seek to expand,\u201d said Flavien Baumgartner, an Africa analyst at Dragonfly, a security and political risk consultancy. \n\nWagner already had its sights set on Niger, in part because it's a large producer of uranium sought after by Russia. But Bazoum posed an impediment because of his pro-French and pro-Western stance, said Baumgartner. \n\nWagner's head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, weighed in on Thursday, describing the developments as part of Niger\u2019s fight against the \u201ccolonisers.\u201d \n\n\u201cIt effectively means winning independence. The rest will depend on the people of Niger, on how efficient they could govern,\u201d Prigozhin, who led a brief mutiny against the Kremlin last month, said in a statement. \n\nUnderscoring the importance of Niger to the West, Blinken said Thursday that he had spoken with the president, saying that he \u201cmade clear that we strongly support him as the democratically elected president of the country.\u201d \n\nBlinken, who was in New Zealand, repeated the US condemnation of the mutiny and said his team was in close contact with officials in France and Africa. \n\nOn Wednesday morning, members of the presidential guard surrounded Bazoum's house and detained him. \n\nThe mutinous soldiers, who call themselves the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, took to state television and announced they had seized control because of deteriorating security and poor economic and social governance in the nation of 25 million people. They said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions, and closed all the borders. \n\nThe coup was reportedly sparked because Bazoum was allegedly planning to fire the head of the presidential guard, Gen. Omar Tchiani, Niger analysts say. Military experts say some of the people who appeared on state television were high-ranking officers, including Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, the head of Niger's special forces who has a strong relationship with the United States. \n\nAccording to someone close to the president who spoke on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak about the situation, the president has not and will not resign and is safe in his residence. \n\nIn a statement Wednesday, several political parties expressed their support for him, calling the coup \u201csuicidal and anti-republican madness.\u201d \n\nThe \u201ccountry, faced with insecurity, terrorism and the challenges of underdevelopment, cannot afford to be distracted,\u201d they said. Protesters also came out in support of Bazoum that day. \n\nThe international community strongly condemned the attempted takeover in Niger, which has experienced multiple coups since independence in 1960. \n\nFrench Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna tweeted that France is concerned about the events in Niger and following the situation closely. France \u201cfirmly condemns any attempt to take power by force,\u201d the minister said. \n\nUN Human Rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk called for Bazoum's release and said \u201call efforts must be undertaken to restore constitutional order and the rule of law.\u201d \n\nRussia also called for the president's release and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the country wants to see \u201ca speedy resolution of this internal political crisis.\u201d \n\n","htmlText":"<p>While many people in the capital of Niamey went about their usual business, it remained unclear who was in control of the country and which side the majority might support. A statement tweeted by the army command\u2019s account declared that it would back the coup in order to avoid a \u201cmurderous confrontation\u201d that could lead to a \u201cbloodbath.\u201d It was not possible to confirm that the statement was genuine.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, President Mohamed Bazoum - who was elected in 2021 in Niger\u2019s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France and is a key ally of the West - appeared to have the backing of several political parties.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe hard-won achievements will be safeguarded. All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom will see to it,\u201d Bazoum tweeted early Thursday morning.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66796875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//78//36//48//808x539_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg/" alt=\"Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/384x257_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/640x428_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/750x501_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/828x553_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/1080x721_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/1200x802_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/1920x1283_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Supporters of mutinous soldiers hold a Russian flag as they demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday July 27 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou issued a similar call on news network France 24, asking \u201call Nigerien democratic patriots to stand up as one to say no to this factious action.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He demanded the president's unconditional release and said talks were ongoing.<\/p>\n<p>U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who spoke to Bazoum by phone on Wednesday, said in a statement that he was \u201cextremely worried\u201d about the situation in Niger and warned of the \u201cterrible effects on development\u201d and civilians due to \u201csuccessive unconstitutional changes of government in the Sahel region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Economic Community of West African States regional grouping sent Benin President Patrice Talon to lead mediation efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Bazoum is a key ally in the West's efforts to battle jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in Africa's Sahel region. Extremists in Niger have carried out attacks on civilians and military personnel, but the overall security situation is not as dire as in neighbouring nations.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7781200\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//07//27//niger-in-the-grips-of-attempted-coup-against-president-mohamed-bazoum/">Niger in the grip of attempted coup against President Mohamed Bazoum<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The fight against extremism in the region has become a major arena in which the West and Russia have vied for influence.<\/p>\n<p>Bazoum was seen by many as the West's last hope for partnership in the Sahel after Mali turned away from former colonial power France and instead sought support from the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Wagner appears to be making inroads in Burkina Faso as well.<\/p>\n<p>Western countries have poured aid into Niger, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited in March, seeking to strengthen ties. American, French and Italian troops train the country's soldiers, while France also conducts joint operations.<\/p>\n<p>But the threat to Bazoum has raised concerns that Niger could also turn away from the West.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, several hundred people gathered in the capital and chanted support for Wagner while waving Russian flags. Later, they began throwing rocks at a passing politician's car.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Mohamed Bazoum resigns from the presidency, Niger will probably move to the top of the list of countries where the Wagner Group will seek to expand,\u201d said Flavien Baumgartner, an Africa analyst at Dragonfly, a security and political risk consultancy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5537109375\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//78//13//72//808x446_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg/" alt=\"AP/AP\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/384x213_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/640x354_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/750x415_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/828x458_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/1080x598_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/1200x664_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/1920x1063_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">In this image taken from video provided by ORTN, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, front center, makes a statement late Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Niamey, Niger.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Wagner already had its sights set on Niger, in part because it's a large producer of uranium sought after by Russia. But Bazoum posed an impediment because of his pro-French and pro-Western stance, said Baumgartner.<\/p>\n<p>Wagner's head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, weighed in on Thursday, describing the developments as part of Niger\u2019s fight against the \u201ccolonisers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt effectively means winning independence. The rest will depend on the people of Niger, on how efficient they could govern,\u201d Prigozhin, who led a brief mutiny against the Kremlin last month, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Underscoring the importance of Niger to the West, Blinken said Thursday that he had spoken with the president, saying that he \u201cmade clear that we strongly support him as the democratically elected president of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Blinken, who was in New Zealand, repeated the US condemnation of the mutiny and said his team was in close contact with officials in France and Africa.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday morning, members of the presidential guard surrounded Bazoum's house and detained him.<\/p>\n<p>The mutinous soldiers, who call themselves the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, took to state television and announced they had seized control because of deteriorating security and poor economic and social governance in the nation of 25 million people. They said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions, and closed all the borders.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66796875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//78//36//48//808x539_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg/" alt=\"Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/384x257_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/640x428_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/750x501_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/828x553_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/1080x721_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/1200x802_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/1920x1283_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Supporters of mutinous soldiers hold a Russian flag as they demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Sam Mednick/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The coup was reportedly sparked because Bazoum was allegedly planning to fire the head of the presidential guard, Gen. Omar Tchiani, Niger analysts say. Military experts say some of the people who appeared on state television were high-ranking officers, including Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, the head of Niger's special forces who has a strong relationship with the United States.<\/p>\n<p>According to someone close to the president who spoke on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak about the situation, the president has not and will not resign and is safe in his residence.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement Wednesday, several political parties expressed their support for him, calling the coup \u201csuicidal and anti-republican madness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The \u201ccountry, faced with insecurity, terrorism and the challenges of underdevelopment, cannot afford to be distracted,\u201d they said. Protesters also came out in support of Bazoum that day.<\/p>\n<p>The international community strongly condemned the attempted takeover in Niger, which has experienced multiple coups since independence in 1960.<\/p>\n<p>French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna tweeted that France is concerned about the events in Niger and following the situation closely. France \u201cfirmly condemns any attempt to take power by force,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n<p>UN Human Rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk called for Bazoum's release and said \u201call efforts must be undertaken to restore constitutional order and the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Russia also called for the president's release and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the country wants to see \u201ca speedy resolution of this internal political crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690474029,"publishedAt":1690477679,"updatedAt":1690485124,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/07\/27\/nigers-president-vows-democracy-will-prevail-after-mutinous-soldiers-detain-him-and-declar","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d139d2b6-882b-5b55-a408-aff4d2bbe610-7783648.jpg","altText":"Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum at the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger, March 16, 2023.","caption":"Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum at the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger, March 16, 2023.","captionCredit":"Boureima Hama\/AP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e639ae4b-f27e-5086-a0c0-2dc09037164c-7783648.jpg","altText":"Supporters of mutinous soldiers hold a Russian flag as they demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023.","caption":"Supporters of mutinous soldiers hold a Russian flag as they demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023.","captionCredit":"Sam Mednick\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":684},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/36\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_de0089b8-6cdb-5ce3-a7f5-4e0e33214958-7783648.jpg","altText":"Supporters of mutinous soldiers hold a Russian flag as they demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday July 27 2023.","caption":"Supporters of mutinous soldiers hold a Russian flag as they demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday July 27 2023.","captionCredit":"Sam Mednick\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":684}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":28942,"slug":"coup-in-niger","urlSafeValue":"coup-in-niger","title":"Coup in Niger","titleRaw":"Coup in Niger"},{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"},{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":3},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":80000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":10119458,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/07\/27\/en\/230727_NWSU_52577178_52577250_80000_210524_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":80000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":15396130,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/07\/27\/en\/230727_NWSU_52577178_52577250_80000_210524_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8mtyxy","youtubeId":"VLqjS-164S0"},"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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in the grip of attempted coup against President Mohamed Bazoum","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger in the grip of attempted coup against President Mohamed Bazoum","titleListing2":"An attempted coup was underway Wednesday in the land-locked state of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army.","leadin":"Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down \"refused to release the president,\" said an anonymous presidential source.","summary":"Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down \"refused to release the president,\" said an anonymous presidential source.","url":"niger-in-the-grips-of-attempted-coup-against-president-mohamed-bazoum","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"An attempted coup was underway Wednesday in the land-locked state of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army. \n\nIn a TV statement, Nigerien soldiers claimed to have overthrown the government, dissolved the constitution and closed the borders. \n\nDisgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down \"refused to release the president,\" said an anonymous presidential source. \n\nIn a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president's office said \"Elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper... (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard.\" \n\n\"The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition,\" the presidency said. \n\nIt is uncertain why the Guard revolted, analysts say that the rising cost of living, perceived government incompetence as well as corruption may have been contributing factors. \n\nInternational condemnation \n\nThe act drew both national and international criticism, denounced by the African Union, the UN, the EU, France and the US. \n\nUN chief Antonio Guterres condemned \"any effort to seize power by force\" while the United States expressed deep concern and called for Bazoum to be released. \n\nECOWAS\u00a0 also called for Bazoum's immediate and unconditional release and warned that all those involved would be held responsible for his safety. \n\nThe European Union said it \"associated itself\" with the ECOWAS statement and attacked \"any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability\" of Niger. \n\nThe head of the West African bloc ECOWAS said Benin President Patrick Talon was heading to Niger on a mediation bid after the region was struck by a new bout of turbulence. \n\n\"No Coup d'Etat\" \n\nSupporters of President Bazoum took to the streets of Niger's capital Niamey, to protest the coup.\u00a0 \n\nAccording to AFP, hours after the act, they tried to approach the presidential complex where the head of state and his family were being held but were dispersed by members of the Presidential Guard who fired warning shots. \n\nOne person was hurt but it was it is unclear whether the injury was from a bullet or from falling down when the crowd scattered. \n\nNiger's political history \n\nNiger has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts at power. \n\nPresident Bazoum is one of a dwindling group of pro-western leaders in the Sahel. Elected in 2021, he took the helm of a country burdened by poverty and a history of chronic instability.\u00a0 \n\nAs interior minister, he was the right-hand man to former president Mahamadou Issoufou, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms. \n\nTheir handover in April 2021, after elections won by Bazoum in a two-round contest against former president Mahamane Ousmane, marked Niger's first peaceful transition of power since independence. \n\nBut reminders of the troubled past have never been far. \n\nAn attempted coup occurred just days before Bazoum's inauguration, according to a security source at the time. \n\nSeveral people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza, and Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition. \n\nFive people, including Gourouza, were jailed in February for 20 years while Cisse was acquitted. \n\nA second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year \"while the president... was in Turkey\", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. \n\nPoverty and jihadism \n\nA landlocked state in the heart of the scorching Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and frequently ranks at the bottom of the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. \n\nIt has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birth rate averaging seven children per woman. \n\nThe country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns --one in the southwest, which swept in from Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists from northeastern Nigeria. \n\nHundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. \n\nThe poorly equipped military is receiving training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have bases there. \n\nLast year, Niger became the hub of France's anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel. \n\nThe mission was reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso after falling out with the ruling juntas in those countries. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>An attempted coup was underway Wednesday in the land-locked state of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army.<\/p>\n<p>In a TV statement, Nigerien soldiers claimed to have overthrown the government, dissolved the constitution and closed the borders.<\/p>\n<p>Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down \"refused to release the president,\" said an anonymous presidential source.<\/p>\n<p>In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president's office said \"Elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper... (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1684165019787984898\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition,\" the presidency said.<\/p>\n<p>It is uncertain why the Guard revolted, analysts say that the rising cost of living, perceived government incompetence as well as corruption may have been contributing factors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>International condemnation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The act drew both national and international criticism, denounced by the African Union, the UN, the EU, France and the US.<\/p>\n<p>UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned \"any effort to seize power by force\" while the United States expressed deep concern and called for Bazoum to be released.<\/p>\n<p>ECOWAS\u00a0 also called for Bazoum's immediate and unconditional release and warned that all those involved would be held responsible for his safety.<\/p>\n<p>The European Union said it \"associated itself\" with the ECOWAS statement and attacked \"any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability\" of Niger.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1684200742209347590\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The head of the West African bloc ECOWAS said Benin President Patrick Talon was heading to Niger on a mediation bid after the region was struck by a new bout of turbulence.<\/p>\n<h2>\"No Coup d'Etat\"<\/h2><p>Supporters of President Bazoum took to the streets of Niger's capital Niamey, to protest the coup.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to AFP, hours after the act, they tried to approach the presidential complex where the head of state and his family were being held but were dispersed by members of the Presidential Guard who fired warning shots.<\/p>\n<p>One person was hurt but it was it is unclear whether the injury was from a bullet or from falling down when the crowd scattered.<\/p>\n<h2>Niger's political history<\/h2><p>Niger has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts at power.<\/p>\n<p>President Bazoum is one of a dwindling group of pro-western leaders in the Sahel. Elected in 2021, he took the helm of a country burdened by poverty and a history of chronic instability.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As interior minister, he was the right-hand man to former president Mahamadou Issoufou, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms.<\/p>\n<p>Their handover in April 2021, after elections won by Bazoum in a two-round contest against former president Mahamane Ousmane, marked Niger's first peaceful transition of power since independence.<\/p>\n<p>But reminders of the troubled past have never been far.<\/p>\n<p>An attempted coup occurred just days before Bazoum's inauguration, according to a security source at the time.<\/p>\n<p>Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza, and Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition.<\/p>\n<p>Five people, including Gourouza, were jailed in February for 20 years while Cisse was acquitted.<\/p>\n<p>A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year \"while the president... was in Turkey\", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident.<\/p>\n<h2>Poverty and jihadism<\/h2><p>A landlocked state in the heart of the scorching Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and frequently ranks at the bottom of the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity.<\/p>\n<p>It has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birth rate averaging seven children per woman.<\/p>\n<p>The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns --one in the southwest, which swept in from Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists from northeastern Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy.<\/p>\n<p>The poorly equipped military is receiving training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have bases there.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Niger became the hub of France's anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel.<\/p>\n<p>The mission was reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso after falling out with the ruling juntas in those countries.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690400033,"publishedAt":1690437549,"updatedAt":1690444616,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/07\/27\/niger-in-the-grips-of-attempted-coup-against-president-mohamed-bazoum","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/78\/13\/72\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_14068194-109c-5465-a494-65dca85df0db-7781372.jpg","altText":"Niger's Presidential Guard announcing government overthrow on national television","caption":"Niger's Presidential Guard announcing government overthrow on national television","captionCredit":"AP\/AP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":567}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"},{"id":10523,"slug":"african-politics","urlSafeValue":"african-politics","title":"African politics","titleRaw":"African 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news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":{"id":3706,"urlSafeValue":"niamey","title":"Niamey"},"grapeshot":"'gb_safe','gs_busfin','gs_science','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_misc','gs_busfin_indus','gv_military','gs_science_geography'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2023\/07\/27\/niger-in-the-grips-of-attempted-coup-against-president-mohamed-bazoum","lastModified":1690444616},{"id":2331530,"cid":7779984,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"230726_NWSU_52556567","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Niger: President Mohamed Bazoum detained by the presidential guard","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger: President Mohamed Bazoum detained by the presidential guard","titleListing2":"Niger: President Mohamed Bazoum detained by the presidential guard","leadin":"Niger, a large but severely poor former French colony, has seen frequent military coups and army rebellions since independence in 1960.\n\n","summary":"Niger, a large but severely poor former French colony, has seen frequent military coups and army rebellions since independence in 1960.\n\n","url":"niger-president-mohamed-bazoum-detained-by-the-presidential-guard","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Niger's president said Wednesday that elements of the presidential guard tried to move against him and that the army will attack if they don\u2019t back down. \n\nPresident Mohamed Bazoum\u2019s official account tweeted that some in the presidential guard engaged in an \u201canti-Republican demonstration\u201d and tried in vain to obtain the support of the other security forces. \n\nThe president and his family were doing well, but the army and the national guard were ready to attack if those involved didn't change their minds. \n\nIt's unclear what ignited the tensions, but on Wednesday streets surrounding the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, were blocked off as were some of the ministries. \n\nSomeone close to the president who wasn't authorized to speak to the media told The Associated Press that the presidential guard surrounded his house with him and his wife inside and that negotiations were underway between the parties, she said. \n\nNiger, a large but severely poor former French colony, has seen frequent military coups and army rebellions since independence in 1960. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Niger's president said Wednesday that elements of the presidential guard tried to move against him and that the army will attack if they don\u2019t back down.<\/p>\n<p>President Mohamed Bazoum\u2019s official account tweeted that some in the presidential guard engaged in an \u201canti-Republican demonstration\u201d and tried in vain to obtain the support of the other security forces.<\/p>\n<p>The president and his family were doing well, but the army and the national guard were ready to attack if those involved didn't change their minds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1684196337150046208\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It's unclear what ignited the tensions, but on Wednesday streets surrounding the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, were blocked off as were some of the ministries.<\/p>\n<p>Someone close to the president who wasn't authorized to speak to the media told The Associated Press that the presidential guard surrounded his house with him and his wife inside and that negotiations were underway between the parties, she said.<\/p>\n<p>Niger, a large but severely poor former French colony, has seen frequent military coups and army rebellions since independence in 1960.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1690376247,"publishedAt":1690384085,"updatedAt":1690385233,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/07\/26\/niger-president-mohamed-bazoum-detained-by-the-presidential-guard","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/77\/91\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c556ca8f-0bdb-5a27-815a-9961b3d1033c-7779118.jpg","altText":"Niger's president, Mohamed Bazoum, before a working lunch with French president Emmanuel Macron, February 16, 2023 at the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace in Paris","caption":"Niger's president, Mohamed Bazoum, before a working lunch with French president Emmanuel Macron, February 16, 2023 at the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace in Paris","captionCredit":"Michel Euler\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":7863,"slug":"coup","urlSafeValue":"coup","title":"Coup","titleRaw":"Coup"},{"id":10523,"slug":"african-politics","urlSafeValue":"african-politics","title":"African politics","titleRaw":"African politics"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"twitter","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":45000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":5797116,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/07\/26\/en\/230726_NWSU_52556567_52556605_45000_172216_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":45000,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":8499964,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/07\/26\/en\/230726_NWSU_52556567_52556605_45000_172216_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8msrk0","youtubeId":"BuB8jbKAEL8"},"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":{"id":3706,"urlSafeValue":"niamey","title":"Niamey"},"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_tech'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2023\/07\/26\/niger-president-mohamed-bazoum-detained-by-the-presidential-guard","lastModified":1690385233},{"id":2290422,"cid":7655814,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"230606_TCSU_51945603","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"The Sahara\u2019s ancient fortresses are a cultural gem waiting to be discovered","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"See the hidden fortress cities in Niger\u2019s Sahara desert","titleListing2":"The Sahara\u2019s ancient fortresses are a cultural gem waiting to be discovered","leadin":"There have been no foreign tourists in this area since 2002. ","summary":"There have been no foreign tourists in this area since 2002. ","url":"the-saharas-ancient-fortresses-are-a-cultural-gem-waiting-to-be-discovered","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"When you think of the Sahara desert, you probably think of vast sandy plains with nothing but dunes and solitude. \n\nBut in northern Niger, abandoned fortress cities break up the horizon. \n\nWhat are Niger\u2019s fortress cities? \n\nFortress cities, also known as \u2018ksars\u2019, such as Djaba, Djado and Fachi were built hundreds of years ago as protection from raids by Tuareg, Arab and Toubou nomads. \n\nThey are usually set in oases of palms or date trees, providing shade and food for inhabitants. The cities are built from salt and clay and usually sit high up on a rock, providing a look out point. \n\nThese days many of the fortress cities have been abandoned. Though they were ravaged for centuries by raids, once the first Europeans arrived in 1906 the \u2018ksars\u2019 were no longer of use and were left to ruin. Some parts have now been covered by the Saharan sands . \n\nKiari Sidi Tchagam, a local traditional chief in Fachi, hopes the cities will soon be recognised by UNESCO . \n\n\u201cIt is part of our culture and, more than that, it is part of our entire history,\" he explains. \n\nIs it safe to visit Niger? \n\nThe current travel advice from the British FCDO and French Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travelling to Niger. \n\nDue to conflict in surrounding countries, no foreign tourists have visited the abandoned fortresses since 2002. \n\nIt is hoped the country will stabilise and tourism will be able to return and develop. \n\n\"What\u2019s really missing today is tourism. And as a result, the community does not take advantage of this place [Djado Fortress], given the insecurity that is there, \" explains Abdoulkader Dodo Mamane, Secretary General of Chirfa City Hall. \n\nWatch the video above to see Niger\u2019s incredible lost fortress cities.\u00a0 \n\n","htmlText":"<p>When you think of the Sahara desert, you probably think of vast sandy plains with nothing but dunes and solitude.<\/p>\n<p>But in northern Niger, abandoned fortress cities break up the horizon.<\/p>\n<h2>What are Niger\u2019s fortress cities?<\/h2><p>Fortress cities, also known as \u2018ksars\u2019, such as Djaba, Djado and Fachi were built hundreds of years ago as protection from raids by Tuareg, Arab and Toubou nomads.<\/p>\n<p>They are usually set in oases of <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2021//07//04//how-palm-oil-ended-up-in-everything-and-could-be-ruining-the-planet/">palms or date trees, providing shade and food for inhabitants. The cities are built from salt and clay and usually sit high up on a rock, providing a look out point.<\/p>\n<p>These days many of the fortress cities have been abandoned. Though they were ravaged for centuries by raids, once the first Europeans arrived in 1906 the \u2018ksars\u2019 were no longer of use and were left to ruin. Some parts have now been covered by the Saharan <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2022//07//06//sand-batteries-could-be-key-breakthrough-in-storing-solar-and-wind-energy-year-round/">sands./n
Kiari Sidi Tchagam, a local traditional chief in Fachi, hopes the cities will soon be recognised by <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//tag//unesco/">UNESCO./n /u201cIt is part of our culture and, more than that, it is part of our entire history,\" he explains.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7290560,5600932\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2021//04//28//sierra-leone-is-the-hidden-gem-of-african-destinations/">Sierra Leone is the hidden gem of African destinations<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2023//05//16//i-travelled-to-algeria-to-run-through-the-desert-heres-why-this-adventure-holiday-could-be/">I ran through the desert in Algeria: Here\u2019s why this should be your next adventure holiday<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Is it safe to visit Niger?<\/h2><p>The current travel advice from the British FCDO and French Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travelling to Niger.<\/p>\n<p>Due to conflict in surrounding countries, no foreign tourists have visited the abandoned fortresses since 2002.<\/p>\n<p>It is hoped the country will stabilise and tourism will be able to return and develop.<\/p>\n<p>\"What\u2019s really missing today is tourism. And as a result, the community does not <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2022//06//29//a-new-responsible-travel-index-has-ranked-every-country-heres-how-it-can-help-you-plan-a-h/">take advantage of this place<\/strong><\/a> [Djado Fortress], given the insecurity that is there, \" explains Abdoulkader Dodo Mamane, Secretary General of Chirfa City Hall.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch the video above to see Niger\u2019s incredible lost fortress cities.<\/strong><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1686048693,"publishedAt":1686054364,"updatedAt":1686055150,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2023\/06\/06\/the-saharas-ancient-fortresses-are-a-cultural-gem-waiting-to-be-discovered","images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/65\/58\/14\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_13819d25-e07d-5bf0-b341-aba4b28dd447-7655814.jpg","altText":"Djado Fortress, Niger.","caption":"Djado Fortress, Niger.","captionCredit":"AFP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/65\/58\/14\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c19c109a-e0c1-5214-bc5f-07addbc9179a-7655814.jpg","altText":"The abandoned fortresses were built to protect villages from raids. ","caption":"The abandoned fortresses were built to protect villages from raids. ","captionCredit":"AFP","captionUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"brown-h","title":"Hannah Brown","twitter":"@hannahdingbrown"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"urlSafeValue":"brown-h","title":"Hannah Brown","twitter":"@hannahdingbrown"}]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":15798,"slug":"sahara","urlSafeValue":"sahara","title":"Sahara","titleRaw":"Sahara"},{"id":15800,"slug":"desert","urlSafeValue":"desert","title":"desert","titleRaw":"desert"},{"id":4144,"slug":"architecture","urlSafeValue":"architecture","title":"Architecture","titleRaw":"Architecture"},{"id":21028,"slug":"sand","urlSafeValue":"sand","title":"sand","titleRaw":"sand"},{"id":12437,"slug":"west-africa","urlSafeValue":"west-africa","title":"West Africa","titleRaw":"West Africa"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":105200,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":13202949,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/TC\/SU\/23\/06\/06\/en\/230606_TCSU_51945603_51945625_105200_131558_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":105200,"editor":null,"filesizeBytes":19751429,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/TC\/SU\/23\/06\/06\/en\/230606_TCSU_51945603_51945625_105200_131558_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"GtSWuNINXMI"},"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"isLiveCoverage":0,"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AFP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":"","freeField2":null,"type":"","program":{"id":"destinations","urlSafeValue":"destinations","title":"Destinations","online":0,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/destinations\/destinations"},"vertical":"travel","verticals":[{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"},"themes":[{"id":"destinations","urlSafeValue":"destinations","title":"Destinations","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/destinations"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":28,"urlSafeValue":"destinations","title":"Destinations"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','gs_travel','gs_travel_holidays','gs_science','gs_travel_locations','eap-gs-homerfaber-fs-30july19','neg_mobkoi_castrol','gt_negative','gs_travel_locations_africa','gs_science_geography','gs_science_environ','progressivemedia','castrol_negative_uk','shadow9hu7_pos_ukrainecrisis'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"path":"\/travel\/2023\/06\/06\/the-saharas-ancient-fortresses-are-a-cultural-gem-waiting-to-be-discovered","lastModified":1686055150},{"id":2228580,"cid":7474616,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"230320_NWSU_50892361","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"grapeshot":"'neg_facebook_2021','neg_nespresso','gb_terrorism_serious','neg_mobkoi_castrol','castrol_negative_uk','neg_saudiaramco','gv_terrorism','neg_mobkoi_fb-weareonit_fs_28feb2019','neg_facebook_q4','neg_facebook_neg1','gb_terrorism_news-ent','neg_facebook','neg_facebook_neg14','gv_crime','gs_politics','gt_positive','gs_science','gb_crime_news-ent','gv_death_injury','gb_death_injury_news-ent','gs_travel','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_science_geography'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kidnapped French journalist and American aid worker freed in West Africa","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kidnapped French journalist and US aid worker freed in West Africa","titleListing2":"?? Kidnapped French journalist and American aid worker freed in West Africa","leadin":"Officials in Niger unexpectedly announced Monday morning that Olivier Dubois and Jeffery Woodke had taken a special flight to the country's capital.","summary":"Officials in Niger unexpectedly announced Monday morning that Olivier Dubois and Jeffery Woodke had taken a special flight to the country's capital.","keySentence":null,"url":"kidnapped-french-journalist-and-american-aid-worker-freed-in-west-africa","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A French journalist an an American aid worker held hostage in West Africa were both freed on Monday. \n\nOfficials in Niger unexpectedly announced Monday morning that Olivier Dubois and Jeffery Woodke had taken a special flight\u00a0 to the country's capital but provided no details.\u00a0 \n\nUS officials said that the American hostage was not freed in Niger but in the surrounding region that includes Mali, where Dubois was abducted in 2021. \n\nBoth men appeared to be physically well when they met briefly with a small group of journalists in Niamey. Dubois, abducted almost two years ago, smiled broadly as he was greeted by well-wishers, saying he was tired but otherwise fine. \n\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing for me to be here, to be free,\u201d the 48-year-old journalist said. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect it at all. I would like to pay tribute to Niger, and to its knowledge of these types of delicate missions. And to pay tribute to France and to all those who made it possible to be here today.\u201d \n\nWoodke, who was tanned, had his long grey hair in a ponytail, and used a walking stick, did not speak. He was abducted six years ago. \n\nAmerican officials said no ransom had been paid for Woodke's release, and praised Niger\u2019s government for helping to gain his freedom. The French government did not comment on how journalist Olivier Dubois' freedom was won. \n\n\nLast week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a visit to Niger, where he announced $150 million (\u20ac140 million) in direct assistance to the Sahel region. \n\n\nThe two men were the highest-profile foreigners known to be held in the region, and their release was the largest since a French woman and two Italian men were freed together in Mali back in October 2020. \n\n\nThe press organisation Reporters Without Borders, which had long pushed for Dubois\u2019 release, said that \u201cwe feel joy and immense relief,\u201d and thanked French authorities. \n\nWoodke had been kidnapped from his home in Abalak, Niger, in October 2016 by men who ambushed and killed his guards and forced him at gunpoint into their truck, where he was driven north toward Mali\u2019s border. \n\n\nAuthorities believe he was being held by an al-Qaida-linked militant group known as JNIM and said her husband\u2019s captors had made a multi-million-dollar ransom demand for his release. \n\nDubois also was being held by JNIM militants, though it was unclear how much time the two foreign hostages had spent in captivity together, said Laith Alkhouri, CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory. \n\nGroups have long abducted hostages for ransom in the Sahel, the vast, semi-arid expanse below the Sahara Desert.\u00a0 \n\nPreviously released captives have described being moved frequently from site to site in harrowing conditions amid sweltering temperatures. The extremists aim to use millions in ransom to fund their jihadi operations, though not all countries engage in payment negotiations. \n\n\nOn Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that two of its employees were freed in Mali. The organization would not disclose the employees\u2019 identities or the circumstances of the abduction, and it could not be confirmed if there was any connection to the other hostages whose release was announced the same day. \n\n\nAt least 25 foreigners and untold numbers of locals have been kidnapped in the Sahel since 2015, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. In 2020, Swiss authorities said Christian missionary Beatrice Stoeckli was killed by her militant captors. \n\nMilitants with links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are believed to still be holding a number of captives, including a German priest. The Reverend Hans-Joachim Lohre was preparing to celebrate Mass in Mali\u2019s capital when he was abducted last November. \n\nLast year an Italian couple and their child were abducted with a household employee in southern Mali.","htmlText":"<p>A French journalist an an American aid worker held hostage in West Africa were both freed on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Officials in Niger unexpectedly announced Monday morning that Olivier Dubois and Jeffery Woodke had taken a special flight\u00a0to the country's capital but provided no details.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>US officials said that the American hostage was not freed in Niger but in the surrounding region that includes Mali, where Dubois was abducted in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Both men appeared to be physically well when they met briefly with a small group of journalists in Niamey. Dubois, abducted almost two years ago, smiled broadly as he was greeted by well-wishers, saying he was tired but otherwise fine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s amazing for me to be here, to be free,\u201d the 48-year-old journalist said. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect it at all. I would like to pay tribute to Niger, and to its knowledge of these types of delicate missions. And to pay tribute to France and to all those who made it possible to be here today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Woodke, who was tanned, had his long grey hair in a ponytail, and used a walking stick, did not speak. He was abducted six years ago.<\/p>\n<p>American officials said no ransom had been paid for Woodke's release, and praised Niger\u2019s government for helping to gain his freedom. The French government did not comment on how journalist Olivier Dubois' freedom was won. <\/p>\n<p>Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a visit to Niger, where he announced $150 million (\u20ac140 million) in direct assistance to the Sahel region. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//47//46//16//808x539_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg/" alt=\"Judith Besnard/AP\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/384x256_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/640x427_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/750x500_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/828x552_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/1080x720_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/1200x800_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/1920x1281_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">French journalist Olivier Dubois, center, is greeted by his colleague Anne-Fleur Lespiaut at the airport in Niamey, Niger, Monday March 20, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Judith Besnard/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The two men were the highest-profile foreigners known to be held in the region, and their release was the largest since a French woman and two Italian men were freed together in Mali back in October 2020. <\/p>\n<p>The press organisation Reporters Without Borders, which had long pushed for Dubois\u2019 release, said that \u201cwe feel joy and immense relief,\u201d and thanked French authorities.<\/p>\n<p>Woodke had been kidnapped from his home in Abalak, Niger, in October 2016 by men who ambushed and killed his guards and forced him at gunpoint into their truck, where he was driven north toward Mali\u2019s border. <\/p>\n<p>Authorities believe he was being held by an al-Qaida-linked militant group known as JNIM and said her husband\u2019s captors had made a multi-million-dollar ransom demand for his release.<\/p>\n<p>Dubois also was being held by JNIM militants, though it was unclear how much time the two foreign hostages had spent in captivity together, said Laith Alkhouri, CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory.<\/p>\n<p>Groups have long abducted hostages for ransom in the Sahel, the vast, semi-arid expanse below the Sahara Desert.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Previously released captives have described being moved frequently from site to site in harrowing conditions amid sweltering temperatures. The extremists aim to use millions in ransom to fund their jihadi operations, though not all countries engage in payment negotiations. <\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7449570,7471710,7317692\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//03//18//pope-authorised-hundreds-of-thousands-to-pay-randsome-for-kidnapped-nun/">Pope 'authorised hundreds of thousands' to pay ransom for kidnapped nun<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//03//08//two-americans-found-dead-after-violent-mexico-kidnapping/">Two Americans found dead after violent Mexico kidnapping<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//01//19//children-among-those-kidnapped-in-burkina-faso-last-week/">Children among those kidnapped in Burkina Faso last week<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>On Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that two of its employees were freed in Mali. The organization would not disclose the employees\u2019 identities or the circumstances of the abduction, and it could not be confirmed if there was any connection to the other hostages whose release was announced the same day. <\/p>\n<p>At least 25 foreigners and untold numbers of locals have been kidnapped in the Sahel since 2015, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. In 2020, Swiss authorities said Christian missionary Beatrice Stoeckli was killed by her militant captors.<\/p>\n<p>Militants with links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are believed to still be holding a number of captives, including a German priest. The Reverend Hans-Joachim Lohre was preparing to celebrate Mass in Mali\u2019s capital when he was abducted last November.<\/p>\n<p>Last year an Italian couple and their child were abducted with a household employee in southern Mali.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1679322527,"publishedAt":1679338750,"updatedAt":1679338752,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/03\/20\/kidnapped-french-journalist-and-american-aid-worker-freed-in-west-africa","programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_30e18669-9443-5ff1-a65c-8d71a44b0731-7474616.jpg","altText":"French journalist Olivier Dubois, left, and American aid worker Jeffery Woodke, center, arrive at the VIP lounge at the airport in Niamey, Niger, Monday March 20, 2023.","caption":"French journalist Olivier Dubois, left, and American aid worker Jeffery Woodke, center, arrive at the VIP lounge at the airport in Niamey, Niger, Monday March 20, 2023.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"height":900},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e17c78b0-0d44-5419-beaf-abbc433f85ff-7474616.jpg","altText":"French journalist Olivier Dubois, center, is greeted by his colleague Anne-Fleur Lespiaut at the airport in Niamey, Niger, Monday March 20, 2023.","caption":"French journalist Olivier Dubois, center, is greeted by his colleague Anne-Fleur Lespiaut at the airport in Niamey, Niger, Monday March 20, 2023.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Judith Besnard\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/47\/46\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f9e8f25e-a058-5fff-a9d8-f6c9cc9572f7-7474616.jpg","altText":"On the left, French journalist Olivier Dubois on March 20, 2023, shortly after being freed. On the right, US aid worker Jeffery Woodke two days before being kidnapped in 2016;","caption":"On the left, French journalist Olivier Dubois on March 20, 2023, shortly after being freed. On the right, US aid worker Jeffery Woodke two days before being kidnapped in 2016;","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AFP - SOULEYMANE AG ANARA \/ STR","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":802,"height":451}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"euronewsdigital","title":"Euronews Digital","twitter":""}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":14276,"slug":"jihadism","urlSafeValue":"jihadism","title":"Jihadism","titleRaw":"Jihadism"},{"id":7878,"slug":"hostages","urlSafeValue":"hostages","title":"Hostages","titleRaw":"Hostages"},{"id":8089,"slug":"press-freedom","urlSafeValue":"press-freedom","title":"Press freedom","titleRaw":"Press freedom"},{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":12974,"slug":"sahel","urlSafeValue":"sahel","title":"sahel","titleRaw":"sahel"}],"related":[{"id":2215526},{"id":2229430},{"id":2233226}],"technicalTags":[],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":{"quotation":null,"description":null,"author":null},"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":null,"contentType":null,"displayOverlay":0},"displayType":"default","video":0,"videos":[],"externalPartners":[],"liveStream":[],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":"AFP","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":0,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"versions":[],"path":"\/2023\/03\/20\/kidnapped-french-journalist-and-american-aid-worker-freed-in-west-africa","lastModified":1679338752},{"id":1426092,"cid":5457152,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"210316_WBSU_15281042","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"grapeshot":"'castrol_negative_uk','neg_mobkoi_castrol','neg_facebook_2021','neg_nespresso','neg_facebook','neg_saudiaramco','gv_terrorism','neg_facebook_q4','gv_death_injury','neg_mobkoi_fb-weareonit_fs_28feb2019','neg_mobkoi_feb2021','neg_facebook_neg1','gt_negative','gt_negative_sadness','gv_military','gv_crime','gs_politics','gt_negative_anger','gs_politics_misc'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Niger: Gunmen kill at least 58 in attack on market sellers","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger: Gunmen kill at least 58 in attack on market sellers","titleListing2":"There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday's massacres, though extremists belonging to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group are known to be active in the region.","leadin":"There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday's massacres, though extremists belonging to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group are known to be active in the region.","summary":"There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday's massacres, though extremists belonging to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group are known to be active in the region.","keySentence":null,"url":"niger-gunmen-kill-at-least-58-in-attack-on-market-sellers","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Gunmen on motorcycles attacked a group of civilians returning from market day in a volatile corner of Niger, leaving at least 58 people dead and then burning granaries to the ground, the government said Tuesday. \n\nThere was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday's massacres, though extremists belonging to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group are known to be active in the Tillaberi region where the villages were attacked. \n\nThe victims were returning home from a large livestock market in Banibangou, near Niger's troubled border with Mali. The suspected extremists also destroyed nearby granaries that held valuable food stores. \n\nThe announcement was read on Niger state television Tuesday evening by government spokesman Abdourahmane Zakaria, who declared three days of national mourning for the victims. \n\nMonday's attacks underscore the enormous security challenges facing Niger's new president, Mohamed Bazoum, who won the election in late February to succeed outgoing leader Mahamadou Issoufou. \n\nNot only are jihadis active in the Tillaberi region, but the counterterrorism offensives against those extremists have helped given rise to ethnic militias, analysts say. Intercommunal tensions have been exacerbated as a result, particularly near the border between Mali and Niger. \n\nMonday\u2019s attack echoed a January massacre that left 100 people dead in two villages also in the Tillaberi region that hadn't been claimed by any extremist group or militia. \n\nExtremists staged mass attacks on Niger\u2019s military in the Tillaberi region, killing more than 70 in December 2019 and more than 89 in January 2020. It's near the area where four U.S. Special Forces soldiers were killed along with five Nigerien colleagues in 2017.","htmlText":"<p>Gunmen on motorcycles attacked a group of civilians returning from market day in a volatile corner of Niger, leaving at least 58 people dead and then burning granaries to the ground, the government said Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday's massacres, though extremists belonging to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group are known to be active in the Tillaberi region where the villages were attacked.<\/p>\n<p>The victims were returning home from a large livestock market in Banibangou, near Niger's troubled border with Mali. The suspected extremists also destroyed nearby granaries that held valuable food stores.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement was read on Niger state television Tuesday evening by government spokesman Abdourahmane Zakaria, who declared three days of national mourning for the victims.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"5448732\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2021//03//12//nigeria-gunmen-abduct-30-students-from-school-as-military-rescue-majority/">Nigeria: Gunmen abduct 30 students from school as military rescue majority<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Monday's attacks underscore the enormous security challenges facing Niger's new president, Mohamed Bazoum, who won the election in late February to succeed outgoing leader Mahamadou Issoufou.<\/p>\n<p>Not only are jihadis active in the Tillaberi region, but the counterterrorism offensives against those extremists have helped given rise to ethnic militias, analysts say. Intercommunal tensions have been exacerbated as a result, particularly near the border between Mali and Niger.<\/p>\n<p>Monday\u2019s attack echoed a January massacre that left 100 people dead in two villages also in the Tillaberi region that hadn't been claimed by any extremist group or militia.<\/p>\n<p>Extremists staged mass attacks on Niger\u2019s military in the Tillaberi region, killing more than 70 in December 2019 and more than 89 in January 2020. It's near the area where four U.S. Special Forces soldiers were killed along with five Nigerien colleagues in 2017.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1615925595,"publishedAt":1615925929,"updatedAt":1615926581,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2021\/03\/16\/niger-gunmen-kill-at-least-58-in-attack-on-market-sellers","programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/45\/71\/52\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_50a9e770-6611-54cc-8211-dbc565a2bc08-5457152.jpg","altText":"Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou takes off his face mask as he arrives for a group picture during the G5 Sahel summit, June 30, 2020, in Nouakchott.","caption":"Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou takes off his face mask as he arrives for a group picture during the G5 Sahel summit, June 30, 2020, in Nouakchott.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":3924,"height":2616}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":17578,"slug":"armed-attack","urlSafeValue":"armed-attack","title":"ARMED ATTACK","titleRaw":"ARMED ATTACK"},{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":12421,"slug":"terrorist-attack","urlSafeValue":"terrorist-attack","title":"Terrorist attack","titleRaw":"Terrorist attack"},{"id":274,"slug":"terrorism","urlSafeValue":"terrorism","title":"Terrorism","titleRaw":"Terrorism"}],"related":[{"id":1700982},{"id":1909914},{"id":1911790}],"technicalTags":[],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":{"quotation":null,"description":null,"author":null},"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":null,"contentType":null,"displayOverlay":0},"displayType":"default","video":0,"videos":[],"externalPartners":[],"liveStream":[],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":"Associated Press","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":0,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"versions":[],"path":"\/2021\/03\/16\/niger-gunmen-kill-at-least-58-in-attack-on-market-sellers","lastModified":1615926581},{"id":1394314,"cid":5391802,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"210221_WBSU_15005507","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"grapeshot":"'gs_politics','sm_politics','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','gs_politics_misc','neg_nespresso','neg_facebook_2021','neg_mobkoi_castrol','castrol_negative_uk','neg_facebook','gv_death_injury','neg_saudiaramco','neg_facebook_neg1','gv_terrorism','gt_negative','gs_education_misc','gs_politics_british','gs_education'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Electoral Commission members killed during Niger presidential election","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Electoral Commission members killed during Niger presidential election","titleListing2":"Deadly violence struck the elections in Niger, where voters returned to polls on Sunday for the second round of voting in presidential elections.","leadin":"Deadly violence struck the elections in Niger, where voters returned to polls on Sunday for the second round of voting in presidential elections.","summary":"Deadly violence struck the elections in Niger, where voters returned to polls on Sunday for the second round of voting in presidential elections.","keySentence":null,"url":"niger-voters-return-to-polls-for-second-round-of-voting-in-presidential-elections","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Deadly violence struck Niger's presidential elections on Sunday when seven members of the National Electoral Commission were killed when their car hit an explosive device, the government announced. \n\n\nThree others were severely injured in the explosion which occurred in Gotheye village in the Tillaberi region in the country\u2019s west, Addine Agalass, an advisor to Tillaberi\u2019s governor told The Associated Press by phone. \n\nThe attack happened while Nigeriens were nearly finished voting in the second round of the country\u2019s presidential elections. It\u2019s unclear if it was intended to target the electoral commission officials or if it was related to the election, said Agalass. \n\nThe West African nation has been battling rising attacks by Islamic extremists for years and Niger experts had warned that Sunday\u2019s elections could see violence. \n\n\nPolls opened on Sunday morning for a second round of voting after the 28 candidates in December\u2019s vote failed to win an absolute majority. \n\nFormer foreign affairs minister Mohamed Bazoum, who received around 39% of the vote in the first round, is running against former president Mahamane Ousmane, who got nearly 17% of the vote, according to the National Independent Electoral Commission. \n\nThe winner of Sunday's vote will succeed President Mahamadou Issoufou - the leader is stepping down after serving two terms, in accordance with Niger's constitution. \n\nIssoufou's decision to respect the constitution has been widely hailed and paves the way for Niger's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960. The West African nation has seen four coups. \n\nIssoufou's chosen successor is Bazoum, 71, a longtime Cabinet minister who is from Niger's small ethnic Arab minority. \n\nOf Niger's 23 million people, around 7.4 million are registered to vote. In the parliamentary and presidential elections that took place on December 27, turnout was approximately 67%. \n\nNiger\u2019s next president will have to deal with major problems, including rising attacks linked to Islamic extremists. \n\nIn January at least 100 people were killed when extremists attacked two villages near the border with Mali. \n\nThousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced despite the presence of thousands of regional and international troops. \n\nThe candidates are trying to entice voters through various campaign promises. \n\nA teacher by training, Bazoum, who is of the ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, has promised to build boarding schools for girls to encourage them to remain in school longer, which he said would help reduce child marriage in a country with many teenage pregnancies. \n\nBut peace is what locals say they really want from the country\u2019s next leader.","htmlText":"<p>Deadly violence struck Niger's presidential elections on Sunday when seven members of the National Electoral Commission were killed when their car hit an explosive device, the government announced. <\/p>\n<p>Three others were severely injured in the explosion which occurred in Gotheye village in the Tillaberi region in the country\u2019s west, Addine Agalass, an advisor to Tillaberi\u2019s governor told The Associated Press by phone.<\/p>\n<p>The attack happened while Nigeriens were nearly finished voting in the second round of the country\u2019s presidential elections. It\u2019s unclear if it was intended to target the electoral commission officials or if it was related to the election, said Agalass.<\/p>\n<p>The West African nation has been battling rising attacks by Islamic extremists for years and Niger experts had warned that Sunday\u2019s elections could see violence. <\/p>\n<p>Polls opened on Sunday morning for a second round of voting after the 28 candidates in December\u2019s vote failed to win an absolute majority.<\/p>\n<p>Former foreign affairs minister Mohamed Bazoum, who received around 39% of the vote in the first round, is running against former president Mahamane Ousmane, who got nearly 17% of the vote, according to the National Independent Electoral Commission.<\/p>\n<p>The winner of Sunday's vote will succeed President Mahamadou Issoufou - the leader is stepping down after serving two terms, in accordance with Niger's constitution.<\/p>\n<p>Issoufou's decision to respect the constitution has been widely hailed and paves the way for Niger's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960. The West African nation has seen four coups.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"5233136\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2020//12//27//niger-votes-in-presidential-and-legislative-elections/">Niger votes in presidential and legislative elections<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Issoufou's chosen successor is Bazoum, 71, a longtime Cabinet minister who is from Niger's small ethnic Arab minority.<\/p>\n<p>Of Niger's 23 million people, around 7.4 million are registered to vote. In the parliamentary and presidential elections that took place on December 27, turnout was approximately 67%.<\/p>\n<p>Niger\u2019s next president will have to deal with major problems, including rising attacks linked to Islamic extremists.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"5247514\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2021//01//03//dozens-killed-in-suspected-jihadist-attack-in-niger/">Dozens killed in suspected jihadist attack in Niger<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In January at least 100 people were killed when extremists attacked two villages near the border with Mali.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced despite the presence of thousands of regional and international troops.<\/p>\n<p>The candidates are trying to entice voters through various campaign promises.<\/p>\n<p>A teacher by training, Bazoum, who is of the ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, has promised to build boarding schools for girls to encourage them to remain in school longer, which he said would help reduce child marriage in a country with many teenage pregnancies.<\/p>\n<p>But peace is what locals say they really want from the country\u2019s next leader.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1613904355,"publishedAt":1613908541,"updatedAt":1613944360,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2021\/02\/21\/niger-voters-return-to-polls-for-second-round-of-voting-in-presidential-elections","programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/39\/18\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_847a4a8e-5868-5bc4-8e9a-f4469966403a-5391802.jpg","altText":"Niger's outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou (C) prepares to cast his vote at the polling station during Niger's presidential election run-off, in Niamey. February 21, 2021.","caption":"Niger's outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou (C) prepares to cast his vote at the polling station during Niger's presidential election run-off, in Niamey. February 21, 2021.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Souleymane Ag Anara\/AFP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":5515,"height":3784}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":9291,"slug":"general-election","urlSafeValue":"general-election","title":"General election","titleRaw":"General election"},{"id":15578,"slug":"vote","urlSafeValue":"vote","title":"vote","titleRaw":"vote"}],"related":[{"id":1333196},{"id":1339622},{"id":1909914}],"technicalTags":[],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":2}],"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":{"quotation":null,"description":null,"author":null},"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":null,"contentType":null,"displayOverlay":0},"displayType":"default","video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/WB\/SU\/21\/02\/21\/en\/210221_WBSU_15005507_15005849_65000_131746_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":"65000","filesizeBytes":6411863,"expiresAt":0}],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x7zg5gr"},"liveStream":[],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":"AP","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":0,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"versions":[],"path":"\/2021\/02\/21\/niger-voters-return-to-polls-for-second-round-of-voting-in-presidential-elections","lastModified":1613944360},{"id":1340838,"cid":5250612,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"210104_WBSU_14428641","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"grapeshot":"'neg_nespresso','neg_facebook_2021','neg_mobkoi_castrol','castrol_negative_uk','gv_terrorism','neg_facebook','neg_saudiaramco','neg_mobkoi_fb-weareonit_fs_28feb2019','neg_facebook_neg1','gv_death_injury','gs_politics','sm_politics','gs_politics_misc','pos_equinor','gt_negative'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":12}],"status":2,"title":"At least 100 dead after extremist attacks on two villages in Niger","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger: At least 100 dead after extremist attacks on two villages","titleListing2":"Islamic extremists staged attacks on two villages in Niger near its border with Mali, killing at least 100 people, Niger\u2019s prime minister said.","leadin":"Islamic extremists staged attacks on two villages in Niger near its border with Mali, killing at least 100 people, Niger\u2019s prime minister said.","summary":"Islamic extremists staged attacks on two villages in Niger near its border with Mali, killing at least 100 people, Niger\u2019s prime minister said.","keySentence":null,"url":"at-least-100-dead-after-extremist-attacks-on-two-villages-in-niger","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"At least 100 people have died after Islamic extremists attacked two villages in Niger near the border with Mali, the country's prime minister said on Sunday. \n\n\nPrime Minister Brigi Rafini travelled to the two villages of Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye a day after the attack. \n\n\u201cWe came to provide moral support and present the condolences of the president of the republic, the government and the entire Niger nation,\u201d he said. \n\nThe villages were attacked on Saturday after locals killed two fighters, officials said. They are located in the insecure Tillaberi region. \n\n\nThe attack occurred as officials said that presidential elections would head to a second round. Some 7.4 people were registered to vote to elect the successor to President Mahamadou Issoufou who is stepping down after two terms. \n\nA second round is needed after none of the 28 candidates won a majority. \n\nNiger has endured several attacks by Islamic extremists, including the Nigeria-based Boko Haram, and fighters linked to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. \n\n\nThousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, despite the presence of thousands of regional and international troops. \n\nWhile jihadists in the region pose a growing threat, the West African country is expected to see its first democratic transition of power since independence from France in 1960.","htmlText":"<p>At least 100 people have died after Islamic extremists attacked two villages in Niger near the border with Mali, the country's prime minister said on Sunday. <\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Brigi Rafini travelled to the two villages of Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye a day after the attack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe came to provide moral support and present the condolences of the president of the republic, the government and the entire Niger nation,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>The villages were attacked on Saturday after locals killed two fighters, officials said. They are located in the insecure Tillaberi region.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//05//25//06//12//808x454_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg/" alt=\"Euronews\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/384x216_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/640x360_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/750x422_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/828x466_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/1080x608_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/1200x675_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/1920x1080_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A map shows the villages attacked by extremists.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The attack occurred as officials said that presidential elections would head to a second round. Some 7.4 people were registered to vote to elect the successor to President Mahamadou Issoufou who is stepping down after two terms. <\/p>\n<p>A second round is needed after none of the 28 candidates won a majority. <\/p>\n<p>Niger has endured several attacks by Islamic extremists, including the Nigeria-based Boko Haram, and fighters linked to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. <\/p>\n<p>Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, despite the presence of thousands of regional and international troops.<\/p>\n<p>While jihadists in the region pose a growing threat, the West African country is expected to see its first democratic transition of power since independence from France in 1960.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1609739245,"publishedAt":1609740143,"updatedAt":1609740152,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2021\/01\/04\/at-least-100-dead-after-extremist-attacks-on-two-villages-in-niger","programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8d372170-05cb-53f1-a1fa-3a3a56009d0b-5250612.jpg","altText":"Security forces in Niger after attacks on two villages","caption":"Security forces in Niger after attacks on two villages","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"TELE SAHEL via AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/25\/06\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_cfc5c276-b5cb-56bf-9ce4-fa6de748c471-5250612.jpg","altText":"A map shows the villages attacked by extremists.","caption":"A map shows the villages attacked by extremists.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":7815,"slug":"attack","urlSafeValue":"attack","title":"Attack","titleRaw":"Attack"},{"id":12291,"slug":"islamic-extremism","urlSafeValue":"islamic-extremism","title":"Islamic extremism","titleRaw":"Islamic extremism"}],"related":[{"id":1911790}],"technicalTags":[],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":{"quotation":null,"description":null,"author":null},"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":null,"contentType":null,"displayOverlay":0},"displayType":"default","video":0,"videos":[],"externalPartners":[],"liveStream":[],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":0,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"versions":[],"path":"\/2021\/01\/04\/at-least-100-dead-after-extremist-attacks-on-two-villages-in-niger","lastModified":1609740152},{"id":1339622,"cid":5247514,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"210103_WBSU_14422456","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"grapeshot":"'neg_mobkoi_castrol','castrol_negative_uk','neg_facebook_2021','neg_nespresso','neg_facebook_q4','neg_facebook','gs_politics','gv_death_injury','neg_mobkoi_feb2021','sm_politics','neg_saudiaramco','pos_equinor','gs_politics_misc','gv_terrorism','gt_negative_anger','gt_negative'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":12}],"status":2,"title":"Dozens killed in suspected jihadist attack in Niger","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Dozens killed in suspected jihadist attack in Niger","titleListing2":"The attack in the border region of Tillab\u00e9ri on Saturday left at least 50 dead.","leadin":"The attack in the border region of Tillab\u00e9ri on Saturday left at least 50 dead.","summary":"The attack in the border region of Tillab\u00e9ri on Saturday left at least 50 dead.","keySentence":null,"url":"dozens-killed-in-suspected-jihadist-attack-in-niger","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Dozens of people were killed in an attack in Niger on Saturday, in a suspected jihadist attack.\u00a0 \n\nThe attack took place around 12:00 CET in the Tchomo-Bangou village in Tillab\u00e9ri, a western region bordering Mali. \n\n\"The assailants surrounded the village and killed up to 50 people,\" a local radio journalist said anonymously. \"The wounded have been evacuated to the hospital in Ouallam.\" \n\nIt came on the day provisional results for the first round of the presidential election, held on December 27, were released. \n\nMohamed Bazoum, the candidate for the ruling Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) and a former interior minister, is in the lead with 39.3 per cent of the votes. Bazoum has vowed to strengthen the country's fight against Islamist groups. \n\nThe second round of the election is to be held on February 21. \n\nNiger has been a target for jihadist attacks for years, particularly in the western and southeastern parts of the country. \n\nOn December 21, six days before the presidential poll, seven soldiers were killed in Tillab\u00e9ri. In May 2020, twenty people, including children, were also killed in two of the region's villages.","htmlText":"<p>Dozens of people were killed in an attack in Niger on Saturday, in a suspected jihadist attack.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The attack took place around 12:00 CET in the Tchomo-Bangou village in Tillab\u00e9ri, a western region bordering Mali.<\/p>\n<p>\"The assailants surrounded the village and killed up to 50 people,\" a local radio journalist said anonymously. \"The wounded have been evacuated to the hospital in Ouallam.\"<\/p>\n<p>It came on the day <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ceniniger.org//presidentielle///">provisional results for the first round<\/a> of the presidential election, held on December 27, were released.<\/p>\n<p>Mohamed Bazoum, the candidate for the ruling Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) and a former interior minister, is in the lead with 39.3 per cent of the votes. Bazoum has vowed to strengthen the country's fight against Islamist groups.<\/p>\n<p>The second round of the election is to be held on February 21.<\/p>\n<p>Niger has been a target for jihadist attacks for years, particularly in the western and southeastern parts of the country.<\/p>\n<p>On December 21, six days before the presidential poll, seven soldiers were killed in Tillab\u00e9ri. In May 2020, twenty people, including children, were also killed in two of the region's villages.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1609654509,"publishedAt":1609656938,"updatedAt":1609656941,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2021\/01\/03\/dozens-killed-in-suspected-jihadist-attack-in-niger","programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/24\/75\/14\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_91f871f4-6a57-5994-bd0b-e120cc246ef1-5247514.jpg","altText":"A Nigerien soldier stands guard as Niger's outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou arrives at a polling stating in Niamey on December 27, 2020.","caption":"A Nigerien soldier stands guard as Niger's outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou arrives at a polling stating in Niamey on December 27, 2020.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ISSOUF SANOGO\/AFP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":5568,"height":3712}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":14276,"slug":"jihadism","urlSafeValue":"jihadism","title":"Jihadism","titleRaw":"Jihadism"},{"id":17578,"slug":"armed-attack","urlSafeValue":"armed-attack","title":"ARMED ATTACK","titleRaw":"ARMED ATTACK"},{"id":274,"slug":"terrorism","urlSafeValue":"terrorism","title":"Terrorism","titleRaw":"Terrorism"},{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"}],"related":[{"id":1394314},{"id":1909914},{"id":2201134}],"technicalTags":[],"widgets":[],"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":{"quotation":null,"description":null,"author":null},"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":null,"contentType":null,"displayOverlay":0},"displayType":"default","video":0,"videos":[],"externalPartners":[],"liveStream":[],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AFP","additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":0,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"versions":[],"path":"\/2021\/01\/03\/dozens-killed-in-suspected-jihadist-attack-in-niger","lastModified":1609656941},{"id":1333196,"cid":5233136,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"201227_NWSU_14353928","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"grapeshot":"'gs_politics_misc','gs_politics','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','sm_politics','gt_positive','progressivemedia','neg_facebook_2021','custom_politics_brussels','gs_science','neg_mobkoi_castrol','gt_positive_happiness','gt_positive_like','neg_pmi','shadow9hu7_pos_pmi','gv_safe'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12}],"status":2,"title":"Niger votes in presidential and legislative elections","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Niger votes in presidential and legislative elections","titleListing2":"Mohamed Bazoum, the right-hand man of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, is aiming for outright victory in the first round \u2014 something that no candidate has done before.","leadin":"Mohamed Bazoum, the right-hand man of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, is aiming for outright victory in the first round \u2014 something that no candidate has done before.","summary":"Mohamed Bazoum, the right-hand man of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, is aiming for outright victory in the first round \u2014 something that no candidate has done before.","keySentence":null,"url":"niger-votes-in-presidential-and-legislative-elections","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"People in Niger began voting in the country's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday. \n\nMohamed Bazoum, the right-hand man of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou is the favourite to win. \n\nThe sixty-year-old former interior minister is aiming for outright victory in the first round\u00a0 \u2014 something that no candidate has done before. \n\nHe's focussing on security and education. \n\nOver 7 million people are eligible to vote.\u00a0 But some voters, like Gambina Moumouni, simply want a president they can trust. \n\n\"We pray to Allah to choose us the president who has the most mercy for the people, a president who will not betray the country and who will not betray the trust of the people, that is our wish. It is also our wish that Allah may help to make the poor, the peasants, the (cattle) breeders happy.\" \n\nThirty candidates are standing including two former presidents and two former prime ministers, but according to seasoned observers in the region, the poll is arousing little enthusiasm among the population. \n\nNiger is the world's poorest according to the UN's Human Development Index and also one of those hardest hit by climate change.","htmlText":"<p>People in Niger began voting in the country's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Mohamed Bazoum, the right-hand man of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou is the favourite to win.<\/p>\n<p>The sixty-year-old former interior minister is aiming for outright victory in the first round\u00a0 \u2014 something that no candidate has done before.<\/p>\n<p>He's focussing on security and education.<\/p>\n<p>Over 7 million people are eligible to vote.\u00a0But some voters, like Gambina Moumouni, simply want a president they can trust.<\/p>\n<p>\"We pray to Allah to choose us the president who has the most mercy for the people, a president who will not betray the country and who will not betray the trust of the people, that is our wish. It is also our wish that Allah may help to make the poor, the peasants, the (cattle) breeders happy.\"<\/p>\n<p>Thirty candidates are standing including two former presidents and two former prime ministers, but according to seasoned observers in the region, the poll is arousing little enthusiasm among the population.<\/p>\n<p>Niger is the world's poorest according to the UN's Human Development Index and also one of those hardest hit by climate change.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1609073573,"publishedAt":1609091080,"updatedAt":1609091084,"expiresAt":0,"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2020\/12\/27\/niger-votes-in-presidential-and-legislative-elections","programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/23\/31\/36\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6d807ca8-ff69-5049-9317-7f5f8c8ab47c-5233136.jpg","altText":"Mohamed Bazoum casts his vote","caption":"Mohamed Bazoum casts his vote","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AFP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":960,"height":540},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/05\/23\/31\/38\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fa4acd7a-ef89-58a2-ae29-4190b22593f1-5233138.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AFP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"armstrong","title":"Mark Armstrong","twitter":""}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12175,"slug":"presidential-election","urlSafeValue":"presidential-election","title":"Presidential election","titleRaw":"Presidential election"},{"id":213,"slug":"niger","urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","titleRaw":"Niger"},{"id":7988,"slug":"violence-in-nigeria","urlSafeValue":"violence-in-nigeria","title":"Violence in Nigeria","titleRaw":"Violence in Nigeria"}],"related":[{"id":1394314},{"id":1689628}],"technicalTags":[],"widgets":[],"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":{"quotation":null,"description":null,"author":null},"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":null,"contentType":null,"displayOverlay":0},"displayType":"default","video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/20\/12\/27\/en\/201227_NWSU_14353928_14353974_69280_175918_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":"69280","filesizeBytes":6865106,"expiresAt":0}],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x7yc84h","youtubeId":"b-_EOTM5r2U"},"liveStream":[],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AFP","additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"isDfp":0,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":""},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{"id":213,"urlSafeValue":"niger","title":"Niger","url":"\/news\/africa\/niger"},"town":[],"versions":[],"path":"\/2020\/12\/27\/niger-votes-in-presidential-and-legislative-elections","lastModified":1609091084}]"
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