A year ago, on December 23, 2023, French counter-terrorism operations in West Africa's Sahel region concluded with the withdrawal of the last French troops from Niger, marking the end of over a decade of French military involvement.
A demonstration in Niger celebrates the first anniversary of the departure of French troops, marking "one year of the victory of good over evil."
The manifestation was organized by religious associations and the M62 civil society movement to "commemorate this date, to immortalize it," Abdoulaye Seydou, the national coordinator of the demonstration, told Sputnik Africa.
"This day symbolizes for us one year of victory of good over evil, the first year of victory of the Nigerien people in their struggle to expel the French colonialist forces," Seydou said.
He also stated that it is also an opportunity to express our solidarity with the Palestinian people.
"We are also here to express our solidarity and to expose the hypocrisy of the international community by drawing parallels between Niger and Palestine to show that the Western world has no respect for human rights or democracy," Seydou declared.
According to a Sputnik Africa correspondent, Brigadier General Asmane Abdou Harouna presented his greetings to the public on behalf of the president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
