Niger’s president blames France, EU and US for destabilizing Sahel

In an explosive and unprecedented live address broadcast on Niger’s national television, RTN, President General Abdourahmane Tiani launched a scathing attack against Western powers, accusing France, the European Union, and the former U.S. administration of orchestrating efforts to destabilize the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a regional bloc comprising Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

The rare over two-hour televised appearance has sent shockwaves across the region, as Tiani laid bare what he described as “imperialist schemes” threatening the sovereignty and stability of the Sahel.

According to Tiani, France and its Western allies are working behind the scenes to topple the AES leadership, particularly targeting Burkina Faso’s transitional leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, whom he hailed as a rising African figure. “They fear his leadership most,” Tiani declared, suggesting that Traoré’s growing influence across the continent makes him the chief threat in the eyes of foreign powers.

Tiani warned that the AES’s momentum toward self-rule has triggered alarm in Europe and the West, who fear a “domino effect” of African nations breaking free from foreign influence.

He framed the struggle not just as political, but also economic, criticizing external actors for exploiting Africa’s natural wealth while its people remain in poverty. “Africa is rich in resources, yet our people suffer. This is no coincidence,” he noted.

He also pointed to what he called the failure of the United States’ military presence in Niger. Specifically, he cited Air Base 201, a high-tech surveillance installation that hosted over 1,000 American troops and drone fleets before it was shuttered in August 2024.

“Despite the advanced technology and years of operations, terrorists moved freely, attacked civilians, and destabilized the region until we expelled them in 2023,” he stated.

In another startling revelation, Tiani claimed that Niger had closed down the operations of the Red Cross in 2024 after authorities allegedly uncovered evidence that the humanitarian organization had been indirectly financing terrorist groups. “These NGOs are not what they seem,” he said firmly, implying that some humanitarian agencies may be operating with hidden agendas.

The President’s remarks have ignited fierce debate across the region. Supporters of the AES view the speech as a bold defense of African sovereignty and a necessary confrontation of neocolonial interference. Critics, however, argue that the address lacked concrete evidence and could escalate regional tensions.