The attitudes of Western countries and their policies on the global stage towards different peoples vary, Ibrahim Namaiwa, the participant of Niger's social Movement for the Promotion of Responsible Citizenship, told Sputnik Africa.
According to the activist, the West's respect hinges on whether a country is African or European.
"Not all peoples have the same value in the eyes of the West, nor do all countries enjoy the same respect. The West observes the international values differently depending on whether it is an African country or a European state," Namaiwa remarked.
The activist cited the "double standards" of France and other Western countries, which in 2014 "did not take steps against Ukraine that they are now taking against Niger."
Namaiwa noted that the West keeps providing assistance to Ukraine, yet at the same time strongly condemns the coup in Niger, just as it did earlier with Mali and Burkina Faso.
The social activist also favored the speedy withdrawal of foreign militaries from Niger, which hosts major Western bases.
It is time for all these foreign soldiers to pack their bags and leave Nigerien territory so that the country's people can truly find a way to save the country and eventually take our destiny into their own hands.
On July 26, members of Niger's Presidential Guard issued a statement on national TV that they had overthrown Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, closed the borders, and imposed a countrywide curfew "until further notice."
Western leaders voiced alarm over the military coup in Niger, with Paris being the most vocal. France, Germany, the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) cut off financial aid to the West-African nation.
On Sunday, thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital Niamey to demonstrate against France and ECOWAS.
A day later, Niger's new leadership accused Paris and its allies of plotting to launch a military operation to release and reinstate the country's ousted President Bazoum.