New york: Niger’s Prime Minister, Lamine Zeine Ali Mahaman, has issued a strong denunciation of France, accusing the European nation of supporting terrorism in the Sahel region, with a specific focus on Niger. This announcement was made during his address at the United Nations on Saturday.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Prime Minister alleged that following the withdrawal of French troops from Niger in 2023, France has been actively involved in a covert operation aimed at destabilizing the country. Zeine Ali Mahaman claimed that the plan involves informing, training, financing, and equipping terrorists, alongside efforts to foment inter-ethnic conflict within Niger and the wider Sahel region.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister accused France of engaging in a campaign to discredit Niger’s institutions, political leaders, and military through disinformation. He stated that this campaign has contributed to ongoing political tensions between Niger and its neighboring countries.
He also criticized France for what he described as an economic and financial war against Niger, accusing the country of trying to undermine Niger’s development initiatives. This, he said, is being achieved by discouraging investors and opposing Niger’s interests in international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the IMF.