Macron’s comments come as tensions between Paris and Niamey continue to simmer following Niger\u2019s 2023 coup \u2013 and as fresh accusations and counterclaims underscore a deepening diplomatic rift between the two countries.<\/p>\n
On Friday evening, Niger\u2019s junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, renewed allegations that France was behind the 29 January attack on Niamey airport, an assault claimed by Islamic State in the Sahel.<\/p>\n
He described the incident as part of a \u201csick agenda of destabilisation\u201d, while maintaining that its apparent objective \u2013 to cripple Niger\u2019s air capabilities<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 had ultimately failed.<\/p>\n Paris has repeatedly denied any involvement, with French armed forces spokesman Colonel Guillaume Vernet calling the accusations \u201cclearly information warfare\u201d.<\/p>\n Macron\u2019s stance has reinforced that position, signalling France\u2019s continued refusal to be drawn into what it sees as politically motivated claims.<\/p>\n Niger accuses France, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire of sponsoring airport attack<\/a><\/p>\n Security tensions and shifting alliances<\/p>\n General Tiani, who seized power in July 2023, has frequently criticised France, accusing the former colonial power of financing jihadist groups active in the Sahel \u2013 a charge Paris strongly refutes. France, which previously led counterterrorism efforts<\/a> in the region, was forced to withdraw troops following a wave of coups across West Africa.<\/p>\n The January airport attack has become a focal point in this dispute. Tiani said it was meant to be followed by seven simultaneous assaults in the Tillab\u00e9ri region, a long-troubled area near Niger\u2019s western border. While he acknowledged a \u201cflaw\u201d in airport security, he praised the response of Nigerien forces, saying the attack had been \u201cvaliantly repelled\u201d.<\/p>\n Notably, Russian soldiers \u2013 reflecting Niger\u2019s shift towards Moscow<\/a> as a key partner \u2013 reportedly assisted in countering the assault. This growing relationship highlights a broader geopolitical shift, as Niger seeks new alliances after cutting ties with France.<\/p>\n Despite the heated rhetoric, there are signs of resilience within Niger\u2019s security apparatus. Tiani emphasised that defence and security forces are \u201cready to take on any challenge\u201d, projecting confidence in the country\u2019s ability to manage ongoing threats.<\/p>\n Niger to float its uranium on international market in break with France’s Orano<\/a><\/p>\n Uranium dispute adds economic dimension<\/p>\n Beyond security concerns, the standoff between Niger and France has taken on a significant economic dimension \u2013 particularly over uranium, one of Niger\u2019s most valuable resources.<\/p>\n The junta has moved to assert control over the sector, nationalising Soma\u00efr, a subsidiary of French nuclear fuel company Orano. The decision is part of a broader push to reclaim sovereignty<\/a> over natural resources, which Niger\u2019s leaders say have long been exploited.<\/p>\n Tiani struck a somewhat conciliatory note on Friday, stating he was prepared to \u201csend\u201d France its share of uranium extracted from Soma\u00efr at the time of the coup \u2013 estimated at around 100 tonnes. However, he was unequivocal about future production, insisting that \u201ceverything that has been produced since then is Nigerien and will remain Nigerien\u201d.<\/p>\n