Nigeria has denied accusations from Niger’s military leader, Brig Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, of colluding with France to destabilize the junta-led nation. In a Christmas Day interview, Gen Tchiani accused France of allying with militant groups in the Lake Chad region to undermine Niger’s security, allegedly with Nigeria’s knowledge. Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, told BBC Hausa that the allegations were “baseless” and “false”. Nigeria has never engaged in any alliance, overt or covert, with France or any other country to destabilize Niger Republic, said Information Minister, Mohammed Idris. The allegations have worsened diplomatic tensions with Nigeria, already strained since the 2023 military coup that ousted ex-president Mohamed Bazoum. The regional bloc, Ecowas, led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, imposed economic sanctions on Niger and threatened military intervention if constitutional order was not restored. Ecowas refuted the claims, saying Nigeria has supported the peace and security of several countries on the African continent and has never sponsored terrorism.
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