Nigeria has been accused by its neighbouring nation, Niger Republic, of destabilizing the country by offering help to foreign countries and officials of the former regime in Niger.
The allegation was made by the foreign minister of junta-ruled Niger, Bakary Yaou Sangare, in a statement read on national television.
Sangare accused Nigeria of providing refuge to some foreign powers and officials of the ousted regime of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Niger’s Foreign Minister said despite attempts to smoothen relations with Nigeria, such efforts have not yielded desired results.
The junta leadership in Niger has therefore summoned the charge d’affaires at the Nigerian embassy to answer the allegations.
“Despite efforts to normalise relations, we regret that Nigeria has not given up on serving as a rear base for the destabilisation of Niger with the complicity of some foreign powers and officials of the former regime, to whom it offers refuge,” Sangare said in a statement read on national television late Thursday.
It would be recalled that the relationship between Nigeria and Niger has been tense since a military coup in 2023 led to the ouster of President Bazoum.
Following threats of a regional military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to restore democratic rule in Niger, the country also pulled out of the regional bloc.
During the 66th Ordinary Session of Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS held on Sunday, 15th December, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, President of ECOWAS, Alieu Touray, confirmed that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic are set to withdraw permanently from the regional bloc by 2025.
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