Niger's transitional leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, has accused France of supporting terrorist groups operating in the country. Additionally, he mentioned the establishment of new security partnerships.
"You can't extinguish a fire with gasoline; the flames of terrorism are fueled by the assistance France is providing," stated Tchiani in an interview with the state television ORTN. Addressing the challenges of counterterrorism and economic recovery, the leader of Niger's military rebellion expressed optimism about finding "new partners" who "grasp the situation" in the country.
Tchiani, the leader of the July 30 coup in Niger, has linked the postponement of the national dialogue on the transition to the "hostile" presence of around two thousand French military personnel in the country. Tchiani mentioned that with the withdrawal of most of the contingent, only around a hundred French troops remain in Niger. He also accused the Economic Community of West African States and other international players of causing hardship for the country's residents through an embargo on food and medicine, describing their actions as a form of terrorism. New dates for the national dialogue are expected to be announced soon.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Vincent van Zeijst/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS