Pro-junta civil society rally in Niamey voices support for Niger's CNSP

Civil society organisations aligned with Niger's military leadership staged a demonstration in the capital, Niamey, on Wednesday, expressing public backing for the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP). The council has held power since July 2023.

Members of the military council were present at the gathering, alongside Niger's Minister of Commerce, Abdoulaye Seydou. Demonstrators carried banners calling for support of the junta, and women's groups were visibly represented among the crowd.

Speakers at the rally framed the event as a show of unity and resolve. Farouk Djibo, a civil society member, said supporters were determined to stand with the CNSP and the President of the Republic, urging all Nigeriens to remain vigilant and discerning about information.

Another participant, Yacine Diallo, described the moment as historic, referencing recent unrest and asserting that the movement has no turning back. Organiser Dan Badji Sonallah alleged that Niger is the victim of a conspiracy involving Europe and its allies.

The demonstration underscores the continued presence of pro-junta sentiment in the capital more than a year after the military takeover.