- Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who levelled the allegation in a recent address, disclosed that financial support has been provided to the Nigerian authorities to that effect.
The government of Niger Republic has alleged that Nigeria has become the willing tool of France in its grand plot to destabilise the country.
The military junta in the West Africa country had alleged that part of the plot to plunge the nation into instability and unrest is for France to set up a military base in Borno State
Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who levelled the allegation in a recent address, disclosed that financial support has been provided to the Nigerian authorities to that effect.
Tiani said the plan is purportedly to destabilize Niger and its neighboring countries.
Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, made this known in a post on his X handle on Wednesday.
According to Makama, the Niger’s junta leader accused France of interfering in the region’s affairs and harboring ulterior motives.
He quoted the junta as saying the Nigerian government had been informed of the France’s plot.
Tiani said: “France has even offered to give money to Nigerian authorities to establish a base in Borno State, with the sole aim of destabilizing our countries.
“We have informed Nigerian authorities, including Nuhu Ribadu and Ahmed Abubakar Rufa’i, of a massive conspiracy to destabilize Niger.
“The Gaba Forest, located on the border between Sokoto (Nigeria) and Niger, was chosen as a base by terrorists recruited by France and ISWAP.
“Unfortunately, it seems we have chosen our interlocutors badly, because it is their skills that have been exploited by France in an attempt to destabilize us on the Niger, Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso borders,” Makama quoted a statement purportedly made by General Tiani.
The junta startling revelation marks the latest in a series of accusations lobbed at France by the Nigerien leader, a situation that underscored the strained relations between Niger and its former colonial power following the military coup in July 2023.
“Tiani’s administration has consistently accused France of interfering in Niger’s internal affairs and supporting factions opposed to the ruling junta,” Makama said.
However, Makama opined that General Tiani’s allegations appear to be grounded more in speculation than substantiated fact.
He said, “These allegations seem part of a broader narrative aimed at isolating Nigeria due to its strong ties with France.”
Makama argued that such continued, unfounded accusations against Nigeria pose a significant threat to diplomatic relations between the two nations.
“General Tiani’s accusations not only undermine these important initiatives but also risk fueling unnecessary tensions between nations that share a common goal of achieving stability and peace in the Sahel region,” he added.
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