In the nation's capital, Niamey, hundreds of supporters of Mohamed Bazoum, the democratically elected president of Niger, have assembled for a large rally. Some of them are waving enormous Russian flags.

Following a summons from a coalition of civil society organizations on the day of the 63rd anniversary of the country's independence from France, the protesters gathered at Independence Square in the center of the city on Thursday.

One of the protesters, Issiaka Hamadou, stated that regardless of whether assistance comes from "Russia, China, or Turkey, if they want to help us," "only security that interests us" is what matters.

“We just don’t want the French, who have been looting us since 1960 – they’ve been there ever since and nothing has changed,” he said.

In order to combat armed groups in the Sahel, France deploys about 1,500 soldiers in Niger.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sanctions have been imposed in response to the coup, and the African Union, United Nations, and Western nations have all condemned it.

But coup leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani remained defiant on Wednesday, saying he “refuses to give in to any threats, wherever they come from”.

The immediate release of Bazoum and his family is required, as well as the preservation of the nation's democracy, according to a statement made earlier on Thursday by US President Joe Biden.

“In this critical moment, the United States stands with the people of Niger to honour our decades-long partnership rooted in shared democratic values and support for civilian-led governance,” he said.

“The Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders,” Biden said. “They have expressed their will through free and fair elections- and that must be respected.”

The removal of Bazoum, 63, has also been criticised by Russia which said the situation was “cause for serious concern”. The Kremlin’s comments came days after Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to show support for the coup.

Bazoum’s victory in the 2021 elections that ushered in Niger’s first peaceful transition of power was seen as a new start for a country that had seen four previous coup attempts since independence from France in 1960.

Leaving Niger

Amidst the political turmoil in Niger, ECOWAS made a demand on Sunday for the coup leaders to reinstate Bazoum to power within a week or face the potential "last resort" of military intervention. This call came alongside a violent demonstration outside the French embassy, where protesters smashed windows and chanted anti-French slogans.

In response to the escalating situation, several European countries have initiated evacuation operations to ensure the safety of their nationals. France, in particular, carried out an evacuation operation that saw almost 1,000 people being transported to safety, primarily consisting of French citizens, but also including individuals from the United States and Germany.

In light of the upcoming protests in Niamey on Thursday, France has also urged Niger's new military government to guarantee the safety of its embassy. The French foreign ministry emphasized that such measures are vital to uphold foreign diplomatic rights and the safety of diplomatic personnel, as mandated by international law, especially under the Vienna Convention.

However, Niger's new military government, as represented by Tchiani, expressed that French citizens had no reason to leave the country and were not facing any threats. Despite this stance, concerns remain high, and diplomatic efforts are underway to ensure the security and protection of all nationals during this tense period.