Niger’s military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has made bold claims against France, accusing the European country of secretly funding terrorist groups to destabilize the Sahel region and Niger. Speaking on state television, General Tchiani alleged that France has been pouring billions of CFA francs into armed groups, including the notorious Boko Haram.
According to Tchiani, these funds support militants operating in Nigeria’s Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, as well as inside Benin. He also accused Ahmed Abubakar Rufai, a former head of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency, of being involved in training and supplying these militants with equipment, acting on behalf of France.
“In Nigeria, Ahmed Abubakar Rufai was the key figure managing training, equipment, and finances for terrorism,” Tchiani said during the interview.
The allegations have been firmly denied by Nigeria. Government spokesperson Mohammed Idris Malagi called the claims “completely untrue,” emphasizing that Nigeria and Niger share deep ties through history, culture, and trade. “Nigeria has never and will never seek to destabilize Niger,” he added, urging Tchiani to stop spreading confusion.
Rising Tensions with France
This isn’t the first time General Tchiani has pointed fingers at France. Since leading a coup to overthrow Niger’s former pro-Western president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023, Tchiani has repeatedly accused France of meddling in Niger’s affairs. He claims Bazoum worked with terrorists and even hosted them at the Presidential Palace under French influence.
“These same terrorists were freed by the former government, acting on orders from France,” Tchiani stated.
France, on the other hand, has not publicly responded to these recent accusations. Relations between the two nations have taken a sharp downturn since the coup, with Niger cutting off defense ties with France and other Western countries.
A Region in Crisis
The Sahel region has been grappling with violent insurgencies for over a decade, starting in Mali in 2012 and spreading to Burkina Faso and Niger. These attacks, often carried out by groups like Boko Haram and others, have killed over 12,000 people in 2023 alone, most of them civilians.
General Tchiani says his military government’s goal is to end this cycle of violence. He claims that Niger’s previous leadership failed to address the crisis, instead choosing to work with foreign powers like France, who he says are fueling the conflict for their own interests.
Niger isn’t alone in turning away from Western allies. Burkina Faso and Mali, both ruled by military governments, have also severed ties with France, accusing the former colonial power of failing to help end the violence. The three nations now collaborate closely, with some blaming Western interference, including alleged Ukrainian intelligence operations, for further instability.
What’s Next for the Sahel?
As accusations fly, the region remains on edge. Tchiani’s statements have drawn attention to the complex web of geopolitics, insurgency, and foreign influence in West Africa. Whether these claims will lead to new revelations or simply deepen existing tensions remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Sahel’s struggle is far from over.
