WATCH: Thousands Queue To Volunteer For Defence Of Niger Against ECOWAS Military
Thousands of people lined up outside the main stadium in Niamey on Saturday to respond to the call for civilian auxiliaries in support of the armed forces.
The event organiser said the junta was not involved in this initiative, although it was aware of it, according to AfricaNews.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions and threatened military action against Niger coup leaders if they failed to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s president who was ousted in a coup on July 26. It has however also said it would explore the path of diplomacy to resolve the political crisis.
On Friday, the ECOWAS commissioner for peace and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said 11 of its 15 member states agreed to commit troops to military deployment.
He said they were “ready to go” whenever the order was given.
“I want to be a soldier for the love of my country. What’s more, Niger is our country. I want to commit myself to Niger. Long live Niger!” one of the volunteers, Mamadou exclaimed.
“I’ve heard there that they need 5,000 or 10,000 volunteer soldiers. That’s why I came here,” Abdoulaye who is a footballer said.
Some parents brought their children to sign up, others said they’d been waiting since 3 a.m. to answer a call from several organisations
Young people chanted in favour of the junta and against ECOWAS and the country’s former colonial ruler France.
The initiative, spearheaded by a group of locals in Niamey, aims to recruit tens of thousands of volunteers from across the country to register for the Volunteers for the defence of Niger.
The group would fight, assist with medical care, and provide technical and engineering logistics among other functions, in case the junta needs help according to Amsarou Bako, one of the founders, who spoke with The Associated said on Tuesday.
“I’m a military mother, we’re waiting for you, young volunteers. From now until tomorrow, that’s what I had to say, wa-Allah. We’re waiting for you, I hope you’ll get us out of all these difficulties,” an activist who was not named told the cheering crowds.
A counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama in a post alongside pictures on Sunday confirmed the recruitment.
“Niger begins massive Recruitment of Volunteers for the Defense of country against ECOWAS military intervention.
“The recruitment currently ongoing at the Seyni Kountché General Stadium,” he said.
