Civil Society Organisations in Niger have criticised a European Union resolution calling for the release of former President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since the 2023 coup, alleging foreign interference in regional affairs.
At a gathering in Niamey on Saturday, several NGOs issued a joint statement accusing France of influencing the EU’s move through its ties within European institutions.
“Let’s say it clearly: behind this resolution is the hand of France, refusing to accept its historic defeat in the Sahel,”Niger Civil Society leader, Abdourahamane Oumarou said.
Oumarou said that France was seeking to regain political influence in the region through diplomatic pressure after losing ground militarily and politically.
The groups also criticised the role of international partners in the Sahel, arguing that decades of external involvement have failed to bring stability to countries grappling with insecurity and economic hardship.
Oumarou said “the region was charting a new course, emphasising sovereignty and self-determination among members of the Alliance of Sahel States.”
“It is unacceptable for external institutions to dictate our choices. The sovereignty of the countries of the Sahel States Confederation cannot be called into question,” he said.
The call for mobilisation has resonated across Burkina Faso and Mali, with organisers urging large demonstrations on Tuesday to protest the EU’s position.
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