By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The Republic of Niger has announced a general mobilization, declaring it is preparing for what officials described as a potential war with France, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between Niamey and its former colonial power.
The declaration was made by General Amadou Abdramane, Chief of Staff to Niger’s leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, during a public rally, according to French media reports.
“Understand this: we are going to war with France. We were not at war before, but now we are going to war,” Abdramane said.
The mobilization decree was reportedly adopted at the end of December during a Council of Ministers meeting chaired by Tchiani. Pro-government outlet Lesahel stated that the measure was aimed at confronting France amid worsening diplomatic and security disputes.
Niger’s military-led government has repeatedly accused France of attempting to destabilize the country. Tchiani has alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron, along with the leaders of Benin and Côte d’Ivoire – Patrice Talon and Alassane Ouattara, have supported Islamist militant groups operating in the region. He further claimed that these countries were behind an attack on Niamey Airport in late January 2026.
France has firmly rejected the accusations. Colonel Guillaume Vernet, spokesperson for the French Armed Forces General Staff, said there was “no question of French involvement in the Republic of Niger,” dismissing the claims as information warfare by Niamey.
Relations between Niger and France have sharply deteriorated since the July 2023 coup that brought Tchiani to power. Once close security partners, the two countries have since become openly hostile. Niger’s new authorities demanded the withdrawal of French troops and the French ambassador, accusing Paris of neocolonial interference.
The standoff led to the suspension of military cooperation and a significant rollback of French influence in the West African nation, which gained independence from France in 1960.
