Thousands of demonstrators rallied near a base housing French troops in Niger’s capital of Niamey on Saturday, September 2, demanding that France, the country’s former colonial ruler, withdraw it forces from the country.Pressure on French forces to leave Niger has been building after the country’s military junta, which staged a coup d’état and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in late July, demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador.Nigerien forces formed a security blockade outside the camp, where an estimated 1,500 French soldiers were located, Al Jazeera reported. Credit: Hassan Yusuf Sabola via Storyful