Nigerien Women Leader
The people of Niger Republic – Nigeriens – have joined a government-organised public meeting in Niamey in support of a national movement aiming to strengthen Niger’s defence against militant groups.
Nigeriens participated, watched cultural performances and listened to speeches from various officials.
Grave Concerns
President of Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, warned that the country’s territories have become ‘crisis-prone areas of endemic conflict’.
“Areas where deliberately maintained violence has become a state of mind, a social dynamic that is passed down from generation to generation,” he stated.
Question of Patriotism
Minister of Population, Social Action, and National Solidarity, Sidikou Ramatou Djermakoye Seyni stressed the moral duty of citizens in ‘defending their homeland’ in such a situation.
“It is not merely a matter of weapons; it is not merely a matter for the army. It is first and foremost a matter of conscience, commitment, and values,” Seyni explained.
Last December, Niger’s government issued a decree calling for general mobilisation against Islamist groups in the Sahel.
The order urges all citizens to help defend the country from Islamic State and al-Qaeda attacks that have killed hundreds in recent years.
AES Cooperation
Since the 2023 coup, authorities have sought closer defence cooperation with Mali and Burkina Faso through the Alliance of Sahel States.
Source – Viory
About the Author
