General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of state of the Niger Republic, has claimed that France is giving Nigerian officials financial assistance so they can build a military facility in Borno State.
According to Tiani, the goal of the strategy is allegedly to destabilize Niger and its surrounding nations.
This was revealed in a post on his X account on Wednesday by Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorism and insurgency specialist in the Lake Chad Basin.
According to Makama, the junta commander of Niger made the accusation in a recent speech, accusing France of meddling in the area and having hidden agendas.
“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.
According to the security expert, the claim is the most recent in a string of charges the Nigerien leader has made against France.
He claimed the move was a reflection of the worsening ties that existed between Niger and its former colonial power after the July 2023 military takeover.
“Tiani’s administration has consistently accused France of interfering in Niger’s internal affairs and supporting factions opposed to the ruling junta,” Makama said.
According to the security expert’s study, General Tiani’s claims seem to be based more on conjecture than verified facts.
“These accusations appear to be part of a larger narrative that aims to isolate Nigeria because of its close ties to France,” he said.
Makama maintained that the two countries’ diplomatic ties are seriously threatened by these persistent, baseless charges against Nigeria.
“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.
