Gambiaj.com – (NIAMEY, Niger) – Niger’s military-led government has accused France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of backing a deadly attack on a military base at Niamey’s international airport, claims that have further inflamed already strained relations between the junta and its regional and Western partners.
Speaking on state television on Thursday, Niger’s military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron, Benin’s President Patrice Talon, and Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara were behind the assault on the airbase at Diori Hamani International Airport.
Tiani did not present evidence to support the accusations. France, Benin, and Ivory Coast had not commented on the claims at the time of reporting.
The remarks came after Tiani visited the airbase, located about 10 kilometers from the presidential palace, where residents reported explosions and sustained gunfire late Wednesday night into early Thursday.
According to Defence Minister Salifou Modi, the attack lasted “about 30 minutes” before being repelled through a combined air and ground response.
The defence ministry said four Nigerien soldiers were injured in the clash, while 20 attackers were killed. State television reported that a French national was among those killed, and authorities confirmed that 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.
“We have heard them bark; they should be ready to hear us roar,” Tiani said, using combative language that underscored the sharp deterioration in Niger’s relations with France and neighboring countries he has repeatedly described as acting as French proxies in the region.
Tiani also publicly thanked Russian troops stationed at the base, saying they had “defended their sector” during the attack. His comments highlighted Niger’s deepening military ties with Moscow following the expulsion of French forces and the realignment of the country’s security partnerships.
Russia has provided military assistance to Niger as it battles armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL, although neither group has claimed responsibility for the airport assault.
Niger has been under military rule since July 2023, when General Tiani led a coup that ousted the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. Since then, the junta has distanced itself from traditional Western allies while strengthening cooperation with Russia, a shift that has reshaped regional security dynamics in the Sahel.
