Nigeria Responds to Niger's Accusations of Collusion with France

Tensions rise as Nigeria's leadership defends the nation's commitment to regional security amidst allegations of collusion with France to destabilize Niger.

Niger's military leader, Brig Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, has put forth accusations against Nigeria, alleging that the country is colluding with France to disrupt the security and stability of Niger. In a recent Christmas Day interview, Gen Tchiani asserted that France is operating in conjunction with militant groups in the Lake Chad region, claiming Nigerian authorities are aware of these maneuvers.

In response to these serious allegations, Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has labeled the claims as "baseless" and "false," emphasizing that Nigeria would never engage in actions that would sabotage its neighbor. He reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to supporting the safety of Niger, calling the accusations entirely unfounded.

Furthermore, Nigeria's Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, criticized the allegations as diversionary tactics devised to distract from Gen Tchiani's administration challenges. Idris stated that these assertions exist solely "in the realm of imagination," and firmly denied any involvement in sabotaging Niger's industrial and agricultural activities.

The diplomatic friction between Nigeria and Niger has intensified, particularly in the wake of Niger's military coup that ousted former President Mohamed Bazoum earlier this year. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu at the helm, has imposed economic sanctions on Niger and has cautioned of potential military intervention unless constitutional order is reinstated.

In a supportive response, ECOWAS has publicly refuted Gen Tchiani's claims about Nigeria, reinforcing that Nigeria has played a key role in promoting peace and security across West Africa and the broader African continent. The statement emphasized the implausibility of Nigeria being labeled as a "state sponsor of terrorism."

In conjunction with the political dispute, Niger has urged Western powers, particularly France, to withdraw military forces based in the region. To bolster its security, Niger has sought alliances with neighbouring military-led nations, including Mali and Burkina Faso, following the coup.