'Will Retaliate If Our Citizens Are Attacked': France Condemns Niger Embassy Violence

After demonstrators attempted to enter its embassy in Niamey, France issued a warning that it would retaliate if its nationals were attacked.

Protesters gather in front of the French Embassy in Niamey during a demonstration that followed a rally in support of Niger's junta in Niamey.

France denounced the violence that erupted outside its embassy in Niger, where a junta took control in a coup this week, and urged that the building be protected by local authorities, news agency AFP reported. Condemning "all violence against diplomatic missions," the French foreign ministry said: "Nigerien forces have an obligation to ensure the security of our diplomatic missions and consulates as part of the Vienna convention."

"We call on them to immediately fullfil this obligation," the ministry further stated. 

According to AFP, thousands of pro-junta protesters flooded the streets on Sunday. They gathered outside the French embassy in Niamey, Niger's capital city, after Paris halted development aid and budgetary support to Niger following this week's military coup against President Mohamed Bazoum.

Some demonstrators removed the words "Embassy of France in Niger" from a plaque. They then replaced it with Niger and Russian flags, yelling "long live Russia", "long live Putin", and "down with France".

After demonstrators attempted to enter its embassy in Niamey, France issued a warning that it would retaliate if its nationals were attacked.

"Should anyone attack French nationals, the army, diplomats and French interests, they will see France respond in an immediate and intractable manner," the French president's office stated, emphasising that President Emmanuel Macron "will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests".

#UPDATE France on Sunday warned it would retaliate if its citizens were attacked in Niger, after protesters tried to enter its embassy in the capital, Niamey. pic.twitter.com/gGgwxhW35U

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 30, 2023

"France also supports all regional initiatives" aimed at "restoring constitutional order" and the return of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, according to Macron's office, as the West African regional group ECOWAS prepared to debate the coup in Niger during a conference in Nigeria.  

On Saturday, the African Union issued a statement demanding that Niger's military "return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority" within 15 days, while the European Union increased pressure on the coup leaders by suspending security cooperation with the country.