France Accused of Funding Nigerian Military Base to Destabilize Niger, Neighbors – General Tiani
Niger Republic’s Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has alleged that France is providing financial support to Nigeria to establish a military base in Borno State, with the purported aim of destabilizing Niger and neighboring countries.
The claim was disclosed by Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorism and insurgency expert in the Lake Chad Basin, via a post on his X account on Wednesday.
According to Makama, General Tiani accused France of meddling in the region, harboring ulterior motives, and exploiting local dynamics to destabilize the Sahel. “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,” Tiani reportedly said during a recent address.
The Nigerien leader alleged that terrorists recruited by France and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had selected the Gaba Forest, situated on the border between Sokoto (Nigeria) and Niger, as their operational base.
He further claimed that his administration had informed Nigerian officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar Rufa’i, about the conspiracy.
“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,” Tiani was quoted as saying.
Accusations Reflect Worsening Niger-France Relations Makama noted that this accusation is the latest in a series of allegations directed at France by the Nigerien junta, which has consistently accused its former colonial power of interference since the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
“Tiani’s administration has consistently accused France of interfering in Niger’s internal affairs and supporting factions opposed to the ruling junta,” Makama said.
The security expert described Tiani’s allegations as speculative, arguing that they could strain diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger, two nations with shared security concerns and strong economic ties.
“These allegations seem part of a broader narrative aimed at isolating Nigeria due to its strong ties with France,” Makama said. “Such accusations not only undermine important regional security initiatives but also risk fueling unnecessary tensions between nations that share a common goal of achieving stability and peace in the Sahel region.”
Observers warn that such unsubstantiated claims could complicate efforts to combat terrorism and insurgency in the region, as cooperation between neighboring countries remains essential to addressing the crisis in the Sahel.
