Niger Republic’s Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has accused France of providing financial support to Nigerian authorities to establish a military base in Borno State.
According to Tiani, the alleged plan is geared towards destabilizing Niger and its neighbouring countries.
Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorism and insurgency expert in the Lake Chad Basin, disclosed this on his X handle on Wednesday.
Makama revealed that the Nigerien junta leader made the claim during a recent address, accusing France of meddling in regional affairs with ulterior motives.
“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 allegedly stated.
“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,” he further claimed.
Makama noted that this allegation is the latest in a series of accusations against France by the Nigerien leader.
