Niger braced Friday for a weekend of planned anti-French rallies as tensions mount between the country’s new military rulers and its traditional ally. A coalition of civil society groups opposed to the presence of French forces in Niger has called a three-day sit-in, starting Friday. French military spokesman Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere Thursday warned that “the French military forces are ready to respond to any upturn in tension that could harm French diplomatic and military premises in Niger”. Return to democracyThe deadline in another thorny issue between France and Niger could also run out this weekend. The military rulers so far have not responded to the suggestions, having previously spoken of a three-year handback period.
