General Abdourahamane Tiani, the Head of State of Niger Republic, has claimed that France is financially assisting Nigerian authorities to set up a military base in Borno State, allegedly to destabilize Niger and its neighboring nations. This information was shared by Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorism and insurgency expert in the Lake Chad Basin, on his X account on Wednesday. Makama stated that Tiani made these allegations in a recent speech, accusing France of interfering in the region with hidden intentions. Tiani said, “France has even proposed to fund the establishment of a base in Borno State, with the primary goal of destabilizing our countries.” He mentioned that they have informed Nigerian officials, such as Nuhu Ribadu and Ahmed Abubakar Rufa’i, about a significant plot to undermine Niger. According to Tiani, terrorists recruited by France and ISWAP have chosen the Gaba Forest, which lies on the border of Sokoto (Nigeria) and Niger, as a base. Makama pointed out that this claim is part of a series of accusations from the Nigerien leader against France, reflecting the worsening relations between Niger and its former colonial ruler after the military coup in July 2023. He noted that Tiani’s government has repeatedly accused France of interfering in Niger’s internal matters and backing groups that oppose the ruling junta. noted that General Tiani’s claims seem to be based more on speculation than on verified evidence. He remarked, “These allegations seem to be part of a larger effort to isolate Nigeria because of its close relationship with France.” Makama stated that ongoing, baseless allegations against Nigeria represent a serious danger to the diplomatic ties between the two countries. “General Tiani’s claims not only weaken these essential efforts but also threaten to escalate tensions between nations that aim to achieve stability and peace in the Sahel region,” he further remarked.
