Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: We witnessed new, stricter stances from European countries since signing new agreement with IAEA
Saree: Our UAV force targeted the so-called Ramon Airport in the Umm al-Rashrash area in southern occupied Palestine
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our rocket force carried out an operation with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile targeting a sensitive target in the occupied Yafa area
Trump administration clears first Ukraine arms aid package paid for by allies: Reuters, citing sources
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman receives Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani at his office in Al-Yamamah Palace
Wakim: Surrender is not in our dictionary, and it is not true that "Israel" can implement its project in Lebanon and the region
Wakim: The US is preventing the armament of the Lebanese army. The question is, why are the weapons it is handed over by the Resistance being destroyed?
Wakim: The Resistance is required to hand over its weapons to the [current] authority. The question is: Is this authority independent or subservient to America?

Niger civilians take initiative to prepare for war, recruit thousands

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Aug 2023 15:49
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Nigeriens initiate a nationwide recruitment campaign to assemble numerous civilian volunteers to assist the Armed Forces in countering potential imminent military operations.

  • x
  • Nigeriens take initiative to prepare for war, thousands recruited
    Nigeriens demonstrating in support of the new leadership on independence day in Niamey on August 3, 2023 (AFP)

Citizens of Niger are boosting preperations for a military attack by some of their African neighbors, as Western-backed ECOWAS increased its threats in the past few days after deploying a “standby force" and greenlighting an operation "as soon as possible."

Nigeriens in Niamey launched a nationwide recruitment campaign to gather thousands of civilian volunteers to help the Armed Forces repel possible military actions anticipated shortly. Individuals signing up could also assist with medical efforts, and join engineering, logistics, and technical teams, among other forms of contributions, Amsarou Bako, one of the founders, told Associated Press AP on Tuesday.

Read more: 'Down with France, ECOWAS': Nigeriens protesting near French army base

"It’s an eventuality. We need to be ready whenever it happens," he told the news agency, confirming that the new leadership is not part of the movement, yet aware of it.

Niger's new leadership vowed on Sunday to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger," slamming the West African leaders for imposing sanctions against the country.

The efforts, which will start on Saturday, will focus on regions where foreign forces are most likely to invade and anyone over 18 could register.

Read more: Niger and the African struggle against neo-colonialism

ECOWAS has resorted to implementing a full pressure campaign on the country, which included the closure of land and air borders between the bloc's countries and Niger, the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions with it, and the freezing of the country's assets in ECOWAS Central Banks.

Related News

Gaza humanitarian aid and the politics of narrative management

Nigeria: 27 killed in armed attack on mosque during dawn prayers

Military chiefs of the West African bloc will meet in Ghana on Thursday and Friday - a meeting that was set last Saturday but was postponed due to "technical issues" - to discuss a possible military invasion in Niger, regional military and political sources confirmed on Tuesday.

“A military intervention with no end in sight risks triggering a regional war, with catastrophic consequences for the vast Sahel that is already plagued by insecurity, displacement, and poverty,” said Mucahid Durmaz, senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence company.

The interim governments of Mali and Burkina Faso warned that any military intervention against Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune highlighted earlier that the Niger crisis represents a "direct threat to Algeria," rejecting completely and categorically the prospect of military intervention in Niamey. 

Meanwhile, Algerian Chief of Staff Said Chengriha announced on Tuesday that it opposes foreign military intervention in Niger, warning that it would lead to further instability in the Sahel region.

The situation in the African Sahel region "is a direct result of the repercussions of the Libyan crisis and the foreign interventions in the region since 2011, as well as the alarming development of the armed conflict in Sudan since April 2023." he said during the Moscow Security Conference in Russia (MCIS).

Commenting on a possible attack on Niger, the United States declared that it agreed with a military operation against the uranium-rich country as a "last option".

Read more: Path of military intervention in Niger gloomy, doomed to failure: FP

“The US is in a difficult situation with no good choices,” said Michael Shurkin, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. “It either sticks to a principled position and pushes for democracy while alienating the junta and risk pushing it into Russia’s arms, or we give up in principle and work with the junta in the hope of salvaging a productive working relationship."

While regional and Western countries scramble for how to respond, many Nigeriens are convinced they'll soon be invaded.

  • Nigeria
  • ECOWAS
  • Niger
  • Abdourahmane Tchiani

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS