Niger Military Junta Calls for War Preparation Against France Amid Escalating Tensions

Relations between Niger and France have sharply deteriorated since the military coup in Niger in July 2023, culminating in the Nigerien junta publicly urging its population to prepare for war with France. General Amadou Ibro, chief of staff to junta leader General Aboudrahamane Tiani, made this declaration during a rally in Niamey, asserting that Niger must ready itself for conflict. He accused France, and specifically President Emmanuel Macron, of attempting to destabilize Niger and of being responsible for the country's economic hardships. The rally featured chants of "Down with France" and the call, "We will go to war with France," which was widely circulated on social media.

Since the coup, Niger has severed diplomatic ties with France and claimed sovereignty over its natural resources, including the nationalization of Somaïr, a subsidiary of the French uranium company Orano. The junta has initiated legal proceedings against Orano for alleged ecological damage, and plans to market uranium internationally by late 2025. This uranium previously supplied up to 20% of France's needs.

France denies any intention of military intervention in Niger. Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a French military spokesperson, dismissed the junta's declarations as part of an "information warfare" campaign. French military forces conducting anti-jihadist operations withdrew from Niger at the end of 2023 after a protracted diplomatic standoff.

These developments reflect deepening tensions marked by public accusations from the junta that France seeks to undermine Niger, including claims that President Macron is a "sponsor" of jihadist attacks—assertions firmly rejected by Paris. The diplomatic rupture has significant implications for regional security and France's strategic interests, particularly regarding the supply of uranium.

The situation remains volatile as Niger’s military leadership intensifies rhetoric calling for mobilization against France, setting a confrontational tone between the former colonial power and its West African former colony.