The Nigerien government has accused France of being behind an attempted coup to remove the military regime.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that some soldiers left their posts and started what officials are calling a mutiny.
From August 28 to 29, these soldiers took control of key locations, including the Diori Hamani International Airport and Air Base 101, which hosts the Africa Corps, a Russian mercenary group. They also tried to breach the fortified presidential palace.
After several hours of clashes, the mutineers were defeated, with many arrested or killed.
France Accused
According to Reuters, the Nigerien government said in a televised statement on Friday that it believes the mutiny was supported by a network led by France.
The military regime added that it has gathered “a substantial body of evidence” regarding the plot and that Niger plans to take the issue to international courts.
France has denied these claims, calling them “pure fiction.” Sahel Alerte, a platform that monitors security issues in the region, reported that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said there was “neither intent nor means” for France to carry out military actions against Niger.
This accusation came shortly after a senior Nigerien military officer claimed that neighboring countries aided the mutiny.
Roger Gabriel, a captain in the Nigerien army, appeared on state television and claimed that several individuals, including associates of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, and officers from Chad, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire were behind the attack.
Captain Gabriel, who leads the 1st Parachute Battalion, an elite unit, said foreigners from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Belgium called him to support the mutiny.
He also stated that French soldiers were expected to arrive in Niamey as reinforcements for the mutineers.
As of now, Benin has denied Gabriel's claims, and it is still unclear if the other countries he mentioned have responded.
Nigeria has also issued a statement distancing itself from the coup attempt. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiy, said there were “false and mischievous claims” that Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) supported the mutiny.
“Nigeria is a peace-loving nation, a defender of constitutional order, and a pillar of democracy and stability not only in West Africa but also in the Sahel and the continent of Africa,” the minister said.
Since the military junta took power in July 2023, the relationship between Niger and France, its former colonizer, has worsened. The coup caused a breakdown in diplomatic ties, with the junta calling for the withdrawal of French troops and ending Niger's long-standing military cooperation with France.
Niger's ties with its regional partners have also been strained, as the new military leaders rejected the influence of ECOWAS, especially its calls for a return to civilian rule.
Instead, the junta has built stronger relationships with Russia and military-led governments in Mali and Burkina Faso. In September 2023, the three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), initially as a defense pact, which later became a confederation.
The junta has often blamed foreign powers for instability in the country, but these claims have not been proven.
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