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A member of the ruling junta in Niger has called on the populace to get ready for “war” with France, as relations between the West African nation and its former colonial power reach an all-time low.
Amadou Ibro, chief of staff to junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani, made the statement on Wednesday at a rally of young people in Niamey.
Ibro told the people that he believed France would attack the country because French leaders blamed Niger for France’s poor economy.
“Know this: we are going to enter into war with France,” Ibro said in a speech widely circulated on social media on Thursday.
“We were not at war; it’s now that we’re going to war with France,” he said.
Attendees applauded, with some shouting, “Down with France.”
France, which withdrew its military forces from Niger months after the July 2023 coup that brought the junta to power, denied any plans to go to war.
Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a French military spokesman, called the claims “information warfare” and said, “There is no question of French intervention in Niger.”
“There is no question of French intervention in Niger,” said military spokesman Colonel Guillaume Vernet, labelling the comments “information warfare”.
The junta has accused France on several occasions since assuming power of trying to destabilise Niger.
Tiani previously accused French President Emmanuel Macron of sponsoring a jihadist attack at Niamey airport.
“We remind the sponsors of these mercenaries, notably Emmanuel Macron, Patrice Talon and Alassane Ouattara: we’ve heard them bark, they should be ready to hear us roar,” Tiani said.
France has consistently denied trying to destabilise the country and rubbished suggestions of war on Thursday.
