Ruptly
"Niamey residents have launched mass civil mobilisations, patrolling key roundabouts to reinforce security amid fears of 'foreign interference' following a European Union resolution calling for the release of former President Mohamed Bazoum. Footage from Monday shows volunteers stopping cars at key intersections to share security protocols and awareness messages, accompanied by musical performances at mobilisation sites. "It is not only the security forces who will fight this battle," said Halidou Laouali, a member of the Citizen Vigilance Brigade. " "All citizens must get involved in a patriotic, responsible, and civic manner, so that anything that could hinder this process of refoundation can be reported and eliminated in all its forms," he stressed. Volunteers confirmed that they are distributing emergency contacts and encouraging residents to report any potential threats to local authorities or neighbourhood leaders. The initiative follows a call by Niger's President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, for citizens to act as 'civilian soldiers' in defence of the state. "Since the European Parliament's resolution, as Nigerien citizens, we have told ourselves that we must defend our homeland. Today, we see ourselves as soldiers- 'green soldiers,'" said civil society activist Mariam Abdou. "We do not need to wait for outsiders to come and solve Niger's problems. External interference - we say no," she continued. It comes amid escalating tensions with Brussels after the European Parliament adopted a resolution on March 12 calling for the immediate release of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and setting out a timeline for a return to civilian rule. The resolution also criticised Niamey's shifting military alliances, particularly its growing ties with Russia, warning of potential repercussions for stability across the Sahel. Since his ousting in the July 2023 coup, Bazoum and his wife have remained under house arrest at the presidential palace in Niamey. Nigerien authorities rejected the move, denouncing it as 'blatant interference' in the country's sovereignty. The National Coordination of Citizen Watch Associations (CNAVC) representatives later submitted a statement to EU officials, reiterating their opposition to Brussels' 'condescending attitude'’ Since July 2023, General Tiani has steered Niger toward what he describes as total sovereignty through the 'Refoundation Charter', aiming to break from decades of Western influence to prioritise regional self-reliance and the reclamation of national assets."
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