Niger’s military government has accused France and unnamed neighbouring countries of supporting last week’s failed coup attempt, saying it could take international action against those it believes were involved.
The accusations followed a mutiny that happened on 29th of August, 2026, in the capital Niamey, when renegade soldiers attacked a strategic military base and other key locations before government forces regained control.
Government spokesperson Soumana Boubacar said in a statement broadcast on national television that the operation was supported by foreign interests.
“This operation, with its international ramifications, was instigated and sustained by a vast network of collusion headed by the French regime of Mr. Emmanuel Macron,” Boubacar said.
He said “traitorous and renegade elements” had been given promises and assigned to pursue “unfulfilled ambitions of Macron and his cronies in our country.”
Boubacar added that such “undermining manoeuvres will always fail.”
Niger also accused unnamed African countries of acting as intermediaries in the alleged plot.
State television earlier aired a video in which an air force captain named Benin, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire and the Economic Community of West African States as backers.
The countries and ECOWAS have rejected allegations linking them to the failed mutiny.
France also dismissed Niger’s accusation.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the claim as “pure fiction,” saying France had neither the intention nor the means to support such an operation.
The mutiny was the most serious internal challenge to Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani’s military government since he seized power in a 2023 coup.
Government forces, reportedly assisted by Russia’s Africa Corps, regained control after the violence.
The allegations have further deepened tensions between Niger and France, whose relations have sharply deteriorated since the military takeover.
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