Niger’s Prime Minister accuses France of sponsoring terrorism in the Sahel: Video
Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine used his address at the United Nations General Assembly to rebuke France’s role in West Africa, accusing Paris of secretly supporting terrorism and waging economic warfare against his country following the withdrawal of French troops in 2023.
“From this platform, I wish to denounce France’s assumed and claimed support for terrorism in the Sahel and in Niger in particular,” Zeine said in his speech.
“Since the removal of its troops from Niger in 2023, the government has implemented a sneaky and subversive destabilisation plan, informing, training, financing, and equipping terrorists, with unfortunate attempts to create the conditions for an inter-ethnic conflict in Niger and the Sahel,” he remarked.
Zeine accused France of running a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Niger’s institutions, political leaders, and army, while also trying to create permanent political tension between Niger and its neighbours.
“This is accompanied by an unprecedented economic and financial war, notably in France’s hateful intent to sabotage all our development projects by demobilising investors and systematically voting against Niger in international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the IMF,” he said.
Since the military-led government in Niamey forced French troops to withdraw last year, relations have soured further, with Niger accusing Paris of meddling in its internal affairs and undermining its sovereignty.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
