Nigeriens are standing by their military in political instability, economic sanctions and military threats until the French part with them, it appears.

On July 26, General Abdourahmane Tchiani led the military to usurp power from Mohamed Bazoum, and although Nigeriens do not expressly despise Bazoum, the overriding sentiment is that he dances to the tune of the French.

“He is not a Nigerien. His love for power is stronger than his love for Nigeriens,” Koonate Ib Malinke, a citizen of Niger Republic, said of Bazoum.

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“Bazzoum’s masters continue to rob Niger without thinking about his fulfilment,” Sadam Adamou, who also referred to member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as puppets asked to attack Niger to protect French interests, told FIJ.

With the exception of ECOWAS member states Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, which have expressed support for the military government of Niger, ECOWAS has fired Niger with economic sanctions and is making preparations for military intervention to restore Bazoum as president and bring back democracy to Niger.

The position of the regional body has angered Nigeriens who took to the streets of Niamey on Friday to protest against the ECOWAS chairman, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria.

Tinubu has been very direct in his demands of the Nigerien military government.

“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order,” the Nigerian president said in a statement after news of the coup began to make rounds on July 26.

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A few days later, he hosted member states in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, where they issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Tchiani-led military government to restore Bazoum as President of Niger.

Nonetheless, Nigeriens continue to stand firmly with their military. “Bazoum has been removed from office,” Adamou said, adding that if he was held hostage, he wouldn’t be able to write to the US to seek intervention.

The majority of people seem to think of the coup as an opportunity to excommunicate France from Nigerien resources and territory.

“We have suffered, and I think that God has given us a chance to fight to gain this much-needed freedom,” one Adams Abd, a Nigerien, said.

“I think it’s time to look at this situation from a more critical angle. France firmly opposes the coup, but it holds a security council in Niger, which suggests that our fight will be rougher and nobler,” he said, adding that “with full sovereignty, we can go from last to first in Africa because we simply have ore, uranium, coal, oil, a fresh water reserve, etc. If everyone unites through the struggle for independence, these riches will be a blessing for us.”

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“My Former President Bazoum, at the beginning of your tenure, you were on the right track to lead the country, but later you bonded with Europeans, what Nigeriens don’t like. But today, Nigeriens decided to end your regime. It’s not you we don’t like, but Tarraya’s regime. You must take destiny into your hands and leave the presidential palace with your dignity,” Moussa Sanoussi Aska, a Nigerien, commented on the president’s page on Friday after his plea for the United States intervention in Niger was posted.

“It’s about Niger, not Bazoum. I believe in my dearest country. But what hurts me the most is that some semi-intellectuals think it’s against them. It’s neither personal nor political this time. Let’s leave politics. The clock has ticked; there is no turning back. Let them understand that Niger is not for PNDS or Bazoum. It is for the Nigerien people,” Abd-El Aziz Ousmane Magagi said.