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Niger’s military government accuses France of orchestrating failed mutiny

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Explainer Named sources Ongoing story
  • Renegade soldiers attacked a military base in Niamey on Aug. 29, with fighting reaching the presidential palace before Niger’s army and Russian Africa Corps fighters contained the mutiny.
  • Niger’s military government accused France, ECOWAS and other regional countries of backing the operation, while Benin rejected the allegation.
  • France called the accusation “pure fantasy,” as Niger said it had compiled evidence and reserved the right to take the matter to international courts.

Niger’s military government has accused France of directing a failed mutiny in the capital, Niamey, while France has dismissed the allegation as “pure fantasy.” The charge shows that tensions between the two countries remain high after the 2023 coup that brought Niger’s military rulers to power.

The attempted mutiny began shortly after midnight on Aug. 29, when renegade soldiers targeted Base 101, a major facility inside Niamey’s international airport complex. Authorities said the soldiers detained some of their comrades and opened fire at sensitive sites in the capital.

This operation, with its international ramifications, was instigated and sustained by a vast network of collusion headed by the French regime of Mr Macron.

· Soumana BoubacarNiger’s government spokesperson accused France of directing the failed mutiny.

Fighting spread to the presidential palace and temporarily took the state broadcaster off the air. Explosions and gunfire continued for hours before Niger’s army, supported by Russian paramilitary fighters known as the Africa Corps, contained the mutiny. State media said hundreds of soldiers participated, with dozens killed or arrested.

Government spokesperson Soumana Boubacar said the operation had been organized and sustained by an international network led by the government of French President Emmanuel Macron. He said renegade soldiers had been promised major rewards to pursue France’s unfulfilled ambitions in Niger. The Niger Council of Ministers said authorities had assembled substantial evidence and reserved the right to bring the matter before international courts, but it did not provide details.

Traitorous and renegade elements, to whom promises of great things were made, were tasked with carrying out unfulfilled ambitions of Macron and his cronies in our country.

· Soumana BoubacarHe described the alleged role of the mutineers in the government’s accusation.

Niger also accused several regional countries and the West African bloc ECOWAS of involvement. Benin rejected the accusation. Niger thanked Russia, Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mali for their support instead.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot denied that France had any role. “There never was any intention, nor means that France would have mobilised,” he told RFI. He said the accusation was another attempt to misrepresent France’s position.

There never was any intention, nor means that France would have mobilised.

· Jean-Noel BarrotFrance’s foreign minister denied involvement in the attempted mutiny.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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