Niger’s representative at the United Nations General Assembly has accused France and Ukraine of leading a proxy war against his country, saying armed groups are massing near Niger’s northeast borders and preparing to attack military positions and oil installations.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as I speak to you, at our northeast borders stand the proxies led by France, backed by Ukraine and two other countries,” the Nigerien envoy said. “And you know full well which countries I mean.”
He said the proxies are “armed, guided, directed, about to attack our military positions and our oil installations. But they will get what they deserve, inshallah.”
🇳🇪 Niger at the UN:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as I speak to you, at our northeast borders stand the proxies led by France, backed by Ukraine and 2 other countries."
"And you know full well which countries I mean."
"These proxies are armed, guided, directed, about to attack our… pic.twitter.com/sGfLToZKrE
— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) September 27, 2026
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The speech framed the conflict in the Sahel as a war of liberation. “Our Sahel is at war. A war of liberation against a conspiracy aimed at its recolonization,” he said. “What some call terrorism in our region is a cynical scheme of recolonization dressed in extremist rags.”
The envoy pointed to the region’s natural resources as the motive. “Niger’s uranium, the gold of Mali and Burkina, lithium, gas, oil and so many other riches keep the old powers salivating,” he said. He described what he called “this perfidious destabilization of the central Sahel, led by France with Ukraine’s active complicity, documented, very documented.”
He also drew a contrast between Africa’s resources and its living conditions. “Niger’s uranium lit up Europe’s cities while ours stayed in darkness. This injustice has now ended. It is over,” he said. He concluded: “A people that has decided to be free cannot be recolonized, not by fear, nor by cunning, nor even by savage violence.”
The accusations are the latest escalation in Niger’s deteriorating relations with France and its Western allies. Since the July 2023 coup that brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power, Niger has expelled French troops, severed military ties with Paris, and deepened security and diplomatic cooperation with Russia. France has repeatedly denied interfering in Niger’s internal affairs. Ukraine has not responded to the specific allegations made at the UN.
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