Africa-Press. A senior member of Niger’s military council said that “France will wage war on Niger,” claiming that Niger is “responsible for the deterioration of France’s economic situation,” in his words.
General Amadou Iebrou—close to the head of the military council, General Omar Abdelrahmane Tiani—urged Nigeriens to prepare for a war with France during a meeting with a group of young people at a stadium in the capital, Niamey.
In remarks that spread widely on social media, he said: “Know that we will enter into a war with France,” adding: “We were not at war, and now we are heading to war with France,” as the crowd applauded and some chanted, “Down with France.”
The speech comes amid a continuing deterioration in bilateral relations between Niger and France since the overthrow of the previous government following a coup in Niamey in July 2023.
French intervention
For his part, Colonel Guillaume Vernet, spokesperson for the French armed forces’ general staff, said there is “no question” of France intervening in Niger, adding that the statements are part of a clear “information war” by Niger.
Niger has repeatedly accused France of seeking to destabilize it. The head of the military council even claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron sponsored the Islamic State group that attacked Niamey’s international airport at the end of last January.
France has long denied the accusations, particularly since withdrawing its forces from Niger at the end of 2023 after a prolonged diplomatic standoff with the military authorities.
Niger—an exporter of uranium used in the nuclear industry—is also in a dispute with French nuclear giant Orano. The military council nationalized the company’s local subsidiary, prompting Orano to file a lawsuit against the move. The military authorities responded with a countersuit accusing the company of environmental harm.
