The Nigerien Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has alleged that France has repositioned agents of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin to spy on Niger, DGSE is France’s foreign intelligence agency, equivalent to the American CIA and the British MI6.
Tiani, whose government has severed diplomatic and military ties with France, accused the former colonial master of “unhealthy desire to destabilise Niger”.
Speaking in an interview with RTN, he said,
So, this unhealthy desire to destabilise Niger has spread through the repositioning of all the agents of the French DGSE that we have chased from our territory. They are repositioned in Benin, I say it, and I repeat it. They are repositioned in Nigeria.
He alleged that the French “subversive” agents operate in civilian clothes and are aided by the Nigerian and Beninese armed forces to spy on Niger.
This desire for destabilisation, the Nigeriens must understand, is real, there is nothing imaginary (…). France will not hesitate, at least through the current authorities, to take action as soon as the Nigeriens have lowered their guard, he said.
He added that all evidence supporting his allegation will be presented “at the appropriate time.”
In June, Niger alleged that Benin hosts “French bases” and therefore refused to reopen land borders with Benin even after sanctions by the Economic of West African States on Niger had been lifted.
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