France has dismissed allegations by Niger’s military leader Abdourahamane Tchiani that it collaborated with Nigeria to destabilize Niger. Bertrand de Seissan, a French Embassy official in Nigeria, called the claims "groundless," emphasizing that no such discussions occurred. The accusations add tension to the already strained France-Niger relations after Niger's coup.
France has categorically denied claims made by Niger's military leader Abdourahamane Tchiani, alleging that France collaborated with Nigeria to undermine Niger's stability.
Speaking in Abuja, Bertrand de Seissan, a political counselor at the French Embassy in Nigeria, dismissed the accusations as unfounded. "These allegations are baseless. Neither France nor Nigeria has ever discussed or entertained such an idea," de Seissan stated during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The claims were initially made by Tchiani, who accused France of negotiating with militant groups in Nigeria to orchestrate attacks on Niger. He further alleged that France provided financial support to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base for destabilizing Niger.
The French official refuted these assertions, emphasizing that they lack credibility and are not grounded in fact. The accusations come amid heightened tensions following Niger's recent coup, which ousted its democratically elected government.
Tchiani’s comments, delivered in an interview conducted in Hausa, also mentioned alleged negotiations between France and terrorist groups, including Boko Haram. These allegations add to the strained relationship between Niger and France as the political landscape in the region remains volatile.
