There’s no collaboration to disintegrate Niger through Nigeria _ Emmanuel Macron

On Wednesday, France dismissed as “groundless” allegations made by Niger’s military leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, claiming that Nigeria had offered its territory as a base for French actions intended to destabilize Niger. In an interview, the Political Counsellor to the French Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Bertrand de Seissan, rejected Tchiani’s assertions, which also included claims of negotiations with terrorists in Nigeria and payments to President Bola Tinubu for a French military base. France and Nigeria both firmly denied these allegations.

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The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the accusations unfounded, emphasizing that there were no French military troops in northern Nigeria planning to destabilize Niger. The ministry reiterated the strong, respectful relationship between the two countries and Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful relations with Niger. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, added that Nigeria would not sever ties with France, stressing the importance of global partnerships, including with France, to address regional security challenges.

French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, rejected claims that France had been ousted from the Sahel region, calling Sahelian leaders “ungrateful” and noting that their citizens had shifted focus from combating terrorism.