Niger’s military leader, President Abdourahmane Tchiani, has accused France of supplying arms and drones to terrorist groups in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin to destabilise the region.
Speaking in Niamey during a weekend programme on Niger’s National Television, Tchiani alleged that France, with Western backing, had armed Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters to fuel violence across Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad.
He claimed the move was aimed at weakening the Alliance of Sahel States, AES, a bloc of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, after the expulsion of French troops.
“France and its partners are doing everything possible to remain in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. They want one of our countries to fall so they can re-enter through the back door,” Tchiani said.
He further alleged that ISWAP had been reinforced along Niger’s borders with sophisticated weapons and drones supplied by France and its allies, in an attempt to prevent the AES from consolidating sovereignty over natural resources.
Tchiani also accused France of exploiting uranium, gold and water for decades while leaving Niger in poverty. He recalled Nigerien and Chadian soldiers’ role in counter-terrorism operations in northeast Nigeria but warned that “the battlefield is now being shifted” to Sahel states because of the AES alliance.
“France fears our success because it will end its exploitation of our natural wealth. That is why they are arming terrorists and using propaganda to weaken our resolve,” he added.
He urged Nigeriens and other Sahel nations to remain united against what he described as external interference.
France has yet to respond to the allegations. Western governments have consistently denied supporting terrorist groups in the region.
