Niger’s transitional President and military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has sharply criticized France, declaring it a greater threat to Niger than terrorism. Speaking in a televised address, Tiani accused the former colonial power of decades of political and economic exploitation, particularly through military agreements and control over the country’s uranium resources.

“Unfortunately, the enemy we are facing is not terrorism. It is especially France,” Tiani said during his remarks, further alleging that Niger’s previous leaders were coerced into signing unequal agreements that allowed French interests to dominate key sectors of the economy, notably energy.

France has long relied on uranium sourced from Niger to power its civilian nuclear energy sector. However, Tiani and others in his administration argue that this relationship has disproportionately benefitted Paris while leaving Niger among the world’s poorest nations.

The President also accused France of using colonial-era ethnographic research as a tool for long-term control, saying French explorers cataloged local traditions and geography not merely for academic purposes but to create roadmaps for extracting natural and human resources.

His comments come amid a sharp deterioration in Franco-Nigerien relations following the July 2023 military coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum. France condemned the coup and suspended military cooperation. Since then, Niger, alongside fellow Sahel states Mali and Burkina Faso, has expelled French forces, withdrawn from the regional G5 Sahel counterterrorism force, and exited the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Earlier this month, Niger nationalized the Somair uranium mine, which had been jointly operated with the French state-owned nuclear firm Orano. The move signaled a firm break from past arrangements and further underlined Niger’s push for greater control over its natural resources.

Tiani’s speech reflects a broader political shift in the Sahel, where military-led governments are turning away from traditional Western allies in favor of partnerships with countries such as Russia and Turkey. In this new alignment, France has increasingly become a symbol of past domination and current interference, according to leaders like Tiani.

As Niger continues to reposition itself diplomatically and economically, the long-standing relationship with France appears all but severed. What remains uncertain is how these moves will impact Niger’s stability, economy, and fight against violent extremism in the years ahead.

By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com