Niger: thousands gather for rally to cheer coup generals as junta closes airspace

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 01:38:38 +0000

Thousands of coup supporters in Niger gathered on Sunday for a rally to cheer on the generals claiming power, as a deadline set by the west African bloc for the military to relinquish control or face possible armed intervention was due to elapse.
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The Ecowas bloc, chaired by the regional military powerhouse and Niger’s neighbour Nigeria, had given the troops that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July a week to return him to power.

At the 30,000-seat Seyni Kountché Stadium, named after Niger’s first coup d’etat leader in 1974, CNSP leaders including Gen Mohamed Toumba greeted a jubilant crowd – and showed no sign of willingness to cede power.

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