France breaks silence on Niger’s coup plot accusations as anti-French tensions reach boiling point

France has rejected Niger’s accusation that it was behind a failed military mutiny in Niamey, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot describing the claims as “pure fantasies” as tensions between the former allies reach another boiling point.

• France has denied Niger's accusations of involvement in a failed military mutiny, calling them 'pure fantasies.'
• French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France had neither the intention nor the means to support or conduct such an operation.
• Niger’s military government accused France of orchestrating the mutiny, allegedly promising support to traitorous elements within Niger.
• The accusation comes amid deteriorating relations between Niger and France.

In an interview with RFI, Barrot was asked about Niger’s allegation that France participated in or supported the attempted coup.

He dismissed the claim, saying there was “neither intention nor means” that France could have had or used for such an operation.

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He added that the accusation was, as usual, another attempt to wrongly assign responsibility to France for events in Niger.

"These are nothing but pure fantasies. There is neither intention nor means that France could have or would have used. All of this is, as usual, a way of wrongly pointing the finger at a responsibility of France that simply does not exist." Barrot stated.

Barrot’s comments came after Niger’s military government escalated its accusations against Paris over the attempted mutiny at Air Base 101 in Niamey on August 28 and 29.

Niger says France was behind the mutiny

In a statement shared by Niger Fr (@NigerAr on X) following a September 4 Council of Ministers meeting chaired by General Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger accused what it called “Mr. Macron’s French regime” of leading a wider network that allegedly instigated and sustained the mutiny.

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The Nigerien government said the operation involved “traitorous and renegade” elements who were allegedly offered promises to carry out what it described as a French plan against the country.

Niamey said it had compiled substantial documentation relating to the alleged operation and reserved the right to take the matter before international justice.

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The government also presented the mutiny as part of what it described as a continuing effort to undermine Niger’s sovereignty and exert control over its natural resources.

The accusation has not been accompanied by detailed evidence made public by Niger, while France has categorically denied involvement.

The confrontation follows the most serious internal challenge to Tiani’s military government since it seized power in July 2023. Mutinous soldiers attacked strategic positions around Niamey, including Air Base 101, the presidential area and the state broadcaster, before the uprising was suppressed.

Niger subsequently said security forces had recovered what it described as a “true arsenal of war” from the mutineers, claiming the weapons were capable of causing major destruction in the capital.

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The crisis also exposed Niger’s growing dependence on new security partners. Russian Africa Corps personnel intervened alongside Nigerien forces to help retake the military base, according to reporting from Al Jazeera and other international outlets.

The episode comes after Niger dramatically reshaped its foreign and security relationships following the 2023 coup. French forces were expelled from the country, while Niamey deepened ties with Russia and its fellow military-led Sahel states, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Niger’s latest allegation therefore adds another layer to an already hostile relationship with Paris, with the junta increasingly portraying France as a source of external pressure and destabilisation.