The Nigerien Minister of the Interior, Public Security, and Territorial Administration, General Mohamed Toumba, explained that France is allegedly using the Trojan horse tactic to sabotage Niger.
He noted that France is partnering with Niger’s neighbors to disrupt the country.
Niger’s relations with its previous colonizer, France, worsened following its July 2023 coup, marked by widespread protests near the French military station in the West African country.
In light of these incidents, the French embassy was attacked.
About a year later, France closed its embassy in Niger indefinitely as tensions between the two countries escalated, but not before all French troops were forced to leave.
As for France’s rationale for deploying its military in the region, the European country indicated that local forces were unable to resolve the security issue on their own and as such French military assistance was required.
Toumba, however, said that it just supported the use of French troops to combat “jihadism.”
French forces, he continued, avoided action, behaved without consequence, and failed to provide security. The situation therefore deteriorated.
In light of the new development, the minister suggested that Nigeriens use extreme caution to contain the crisis.
Very recently, Niger suspended the operations of the British media company, BBC, owing to the suspicion that the company is trying to disrupt the country’s peace.
France’s exit from Niger
On July 26, 2023, the Republic of Niger had a coup d’état when the country’s presidential guard imprisoned President Mohamed Bazoum.
Senior officers from several branches of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) organized a junta known as the National Council for Homeland Security (CNSP).
Since then, the relationship between France and Niger has deteriorated significantly.
The exit concludes years of on-the-ground military assistance for a decade-long Islamist insurgency in Africa’s Sahel area.
Initially hesitant, French President Emmanuel Macron declared in September that 1,500 troops would leave Niger before the end of the year.
