In French colonial countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, demonstrators supporting the coup governments waved Russian flags in the squares.
The last example of this was experienced during the junta administration's show of strength in the capital Niamey on 6 August. In the stadium where thousands of Nigerien people gathered, it was noteworthy that the Russian flags were placed alongside the Niger flags.
African experts doing research on the region stated that it is wrong to use Russian flags in demonstrations with the theme of demanding independence or anti-France.
Boubacar Amadou Cisse, Lecturer at Bamako University of Administrative and Social Sciences in Mali, "It is inappropriate to use Russian flags during protests against France," he said.
Cisse pointed out that Africa was colonized by Western countries.
"The continent moved from slavery and colonialism to neocolonialism. Therefore, Africans should not be blindly tied to Russia," Cisse said.
Emphasizing that some colonial powers left their former colonies, some continued to interfere in their socio-political and economic systems, Cisse said that although France is not well known, it still has strong ties with its former colonies.
"France imposes presidential candidates on presidential positions in these countries. This is why many African leaders spend decades in power without complaining about the dictatorship and lack of democracy in France and the West. This somehow explains the repeated coups and political instability, but the protests show the overthrow of a French-backed system," Cisse added.
"THE WEST AND THE RUSSIAN WAR IN AFRICA IS NOT NEW"
Emphasizing that the war between Russia and the West in Africa is not new, Cisse said, "After the independence of African states, the Soviet Union was among the first to recognize these countries and later helped African countries to realize their new development plans."
Cisse stated that Africans gave different reactions to the unfurling of the Russian flag and continued as follows:
"Although Russia does not have colonial ties to Africa, it is a country that wants to expand its influence and protect its interests."
"RUSSIA IS NOT THE SAVIOR OF AFRICA!"
Cisse, referring to Russia's increasing influence in African countries despite the unilateral gains of Western countries in relations with Africa, underlined that Russia is successful in these relations.
Cisse said that Africans demanded the help and ultimate partnership of Russia and therefore they used Russian flags in the squares.
"Africans carrying Russian flags does not create a good image for Africa and Russia should not be portrayed as the 'savior of the continent'," Cisse said.
"LOVE FOR RUSSIA RESULTS IN DISAPPOINTMENT"
Nigerian Ifeoluwa Siddiq Oyelami, known for his work on security and armed organizations in West Africa, stated that the use of Russian flags in the demonstrations is difficult to understand, and pointed out that this situation is an indication of dependence on others while talking about independence.
Oyelami stated that Africans who defend Russia's African policy and present it as an alternative to Western countries often use arguments such as "Russia did not enslave anyone" or "Russia did not establish a colony in Africa".
"I think our African peoples are struggling to grasp the full meaning of international dominance. Maybe they don't understand the difference between friendship and hegemony," Oyelami said.
FRANCE'S MILITARY PRESENCE IN NIGER THROUGHOUT UNCERTAINTY
The fact that France entered a tense period in its relations with the junta administration in Niger, where a military coup took place on July 26, led to the uncertainty of its future and military presence in this country, where foreign military intervention was planned.
It is evaluated that a direct military intervention by Paris in Niger for the reinstatement of its "ally" President Mohamed Bazum would endanger France's future in the continent.
After the coup, thousands of Nigerien people demonstrated in front of the French embassy in the capital Niamey and some of the demonstrators attacked the embassy, which brought along discussions about the presence of France in this country.
France has 1,500 soldiers in Niger, which is rich in uranium but is one of the poorest countries in the world with a population of about 20 million.