M62 Movement

M62 Movement
M62 : Union sacrée pour la sauvegarde de la souveraineté et de la dignité du peuple
Russian and Nigerien flags, which seem to be used by group in their anti-French and pro-coup protests
Leaders	Abdoulaye Seydou (arrested)
Dates of operation	4 July 2022–present
Headquarters	Niamey
Active regions	Niger and other bordering countries
Ideology	Anti-imperialism Anti-French sentiment Anti-Ukrainian sentiment Anti-Western sentiment Russophilia
Opponents	Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism France Ukraine African Union ECOWAS

The M62 Movement (French: Mouvement M62), officially known as "M62: Sacred Union for the Safeguard of the Sovereignty and Dignity of the People" (French: M62 : Union sacrée pour la sauvegarde de la souveraineté et de la dignité du peuple), is a political movement in Niger. The group not only identifies itself as anti-imperialist and anti-French, it is also anti-Ukrainian due its supporters wearing Z symbol shirts during demonstrations. It emerged as a civil society movement during Operation Barkhane, opposing the French intervention by characterizing it as an imperialist ambition.

History

It was established on 4 July 2022, with the purpose of expressing opposition to the French presence in Operation Barkhane, which the group perceives as a "French military presence in Niger," and thus views it as a form of invasion.. During these protests, participants utilized the flags of Russian and Nigerien as symbols. As of September 19, 2022, the protests persisted, and certain slogans emerged, such as "France is a Nazi State!", "The colonial army (Barkhane) 'do it quitter'", and "Pull the French colonial army out" . During these protests, many have also worn Z symbol shirts that is used during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During 2023 Nigerien coup d'état the group marched in support of the said coup. In a march at the request of Abdourahmane Tchiani, thousands of pro-coup Nigeriens gathered in Niamey's Concertation square, in front of the National Assembly, and went to the French Embassy carrying Nigerien and Russian flags, with slogans such as "Down with France, out with Barkhane, we don't care about ECOWAS, the European Union and the African Union!", "Arrest the former dignitaries to return the stolen millions.", and "Down with France, long live Putin!". The demonstrators also called for an immediate intervention by the Wagner Group. During the march, the entrances to the French and American embassies were closed. The French embassy’s walls and gates were set ablaze and damaged whilst Nigerien soldiers and General Salifou Modi were seen on the ground urging the crowds to disperse peacefully.