Niamey-Sana
3 people were killed and 18 others were injured when the French army opened fire on a protest demonstration against the crossing of one of its convoys into Niger from Burkina Faso.
Today, Agence France-Presse quoted Hama Mamodou, mayor of Tira, as saying that the clashes resulted in three deaths and 18 wounded, including four who were evacuated to Niamey.
In turn, the Interior Ministry in Niger said that French forces "unfortunately used force" to confront the protesters.
For his part, the spokesman for the French Army's Chief of Staff, Colonel Pascal Ian, announced that the convoy was able to leave and resume its advance towards Niamey, pointing out that precautions were taken to secure the convoy, avoid tensions and ensure its arrival at its destination, Gao, Mali.
Four demonstrators were injured on the 20th of this month after French soldiers shot a crowd of protesters in Kaya in Burkina Faso, where popular anger and protests are escalating in the Sahel region in West Africa, rejecting the French re-colonization of its countries.