Niger’s government has accused France of stoking a mutiny that culminated in a violent assault on the country’s main military airbase last week. Officials say French officials and intelligence operatives spread disinformation that inflamed tensions among soldiers already disgruntled over unpaid wages and political uncertainty. The attack, which left several aircraft damaged and dozens of troops injured, underscores the deepening rift between Niger’s junta and its former colonial partner, whose troops remain stationed in the region as part of counter‑terrorism operations. As diplomatic ties fray, both sides warn that further confrontations could destabilize an already volatile Sahel.
Niger has blamed France for inciting an attack on a key military airbase by mutinous soldiers last week.
