President Abdourahmane Tchiani of Niger Republic is facing significant backlash after alleging that Nigeria and France are conspiring to destabilise his country by hosting French soldiers and training terrorists in Nigerian states.
The allegations, made during a Christmas Day address, have been dismissed as baseless by Nigerian authorities, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Special Adviser on Policy Communication Daniel Bwala.
The claims have sparked widespread criticism from Nigeriens and regional commentators, with accusations that Tchiani is deflecting from his administration’s shortcomings, including economic hardship, insecurity, and poor governance since seizing power in a coup 17 months ago.
- Credibility of Allegations:
- Tchiani alleged that terrorist training camps exist in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and other regions, under French supervision.
- Defence expert Zagazola debunked these claims, stating there is no evidence of French military presence in the mentioned areas, which are currently plagued by ISWAP and Boko Haram activity.
- Deflection and Failures:
- Prominent Nigerien commentators, such as Maidalili Namu, criticised Tchiani for focusing on unfounded conspiracies rather than addressing internal issues like unemployment, displacement, and rising costs of living.
- Namu and others highlighted that Tchiani’s accusations against over 20 nations and lack of actionable steps to address alleged threats raise doubts about his leadership.
- Social Media Allegations:
- Reports indicate that the Nigerien military junta allegedly orchestrated a social media campaign to amplify claims against France and Nigeria to bolster public support for the regime.
The situation underscores growing dissatisfaction among Nigeriens over the junta’s governance, with calls for a return to transparency and a focus on resolving the country’s pressing challenges.