Nigeriens are protesting to demand that foreign forces leave their country
Hundreds of people have participated in protests against the presence of foreign forces in Niger, including the US military which has a military base in the north of the country.
Hundreds of people have participated in protests against the presence of foreign forces in Niger, including the US military which has a military base in the north of the country.
The protestors have gathered in the center of the capital city of Niamey, responding to the call of civil organizations close to the country's military regime, some of whose officers have also participated in the protest.
Abdoulaziz Yaya, one of the protesters said: "We have called for the withdrawal of the Americans and all foreign forces from Niger, and the leadership of the army has considered our concerns, and it is in this context that we have come to support and confirm our support for the leadership of the army in relation to the decision taken to ask the foreign forces to leave".
The protests have taken place when the West African nation withdrew from close cooperation with the United States in efforts to combat terrorism, and instead turned to Russia for its security issues.
The demonstration is seen as a further step to ask Washington to withdraw from Niger after Russian troops arrived in the country last week to guarantee the security of the ruling military government.
In relation to that, one of the organizers of the demonstration, Moumouni Amadou Gado, said: "The Russians will be here as part of a mutually beneficial partnership, while the Americans, as we have seen, have been here for how many years? Has insecurity decreased? I will say no. But in the case of the Russians, recently we have seen that the situation is improving".
According to US officials, Niger's military ruling council, known as the CNSP, has not yet ordered US troops to leave the country.
However, with the arrival of Russian forces, it will be difficult for American soldiers and diplomatic and civilian personnel to continue to remain in Niger.../
