Niger accuses France of arming terrorists with weapons, drones to destabilise Sahel, Lake Chad

By: Zagazola Makama

Niger’s military leader, President Abdourahmane Tchiani, has accused France of supplying weapons and supporting terrorist groups to destabilise the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries.

Speaking in Niamey during the weekend Chat on Niger’s National Television, Tchiani alleged that France, with the backing of Western allies, was fuelling insecurity to weaken the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

According to him, France has allegedly armed ISWAP to sustain instability in Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad.

He also accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of hub nosing with French President Macron.

He claimed that France was using the groups to prevent the AES from consolidating its sovereignty after expelling French troops and asserting control over national resources.

“France and its partners are doing everything possible to remain in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. They want one of our countries to fall so that they can re-enter through the back door,” Tchiani said.

He further alleged that France, alongside the United States, had provided drones and sophisticated weapons to terrorists operating in the Lake Chad Basin.

“In January this year, they initially deployed 150 Boko Haram fighters to occupy positions left Benin, after deadly attack by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), in April 17, 2025, near the country’s northern borders with Burkina Faso and Niger – regions that left 70 Beninese soldiers killed. later, they increased the number of ISWAP fighters to 200, and most recently 250, to launch attacks on Niger and destabilise the wider region. France supplied these groups with arms and stationed them at Udullibi along our porous borders,” he added.

Tchiani recalled that Nigerien and Chadian troops had previously played a critical role in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign, including major operations against ISWAP in Borno State.

He said Generals Muhammadu Toumba of Niger and another senior commander from Chad had led forces that cleared areas from Damasak up to Malam Fatori more than 100 kilometres.

“Relative peace in the region at that time was due to the joint sacrifices of Nigerien and Chadian soldiers, many of whom laid down their lives. But now, France and its partners have shifted the war to our soil because they see our unity in AES as a threat,” he said.

The Nigerien leader also accused France of exploiting uranium, gold and even water resources from Niger for decades while leaving the people in poverty.

He insisted that the AES, formed on Sept. 16, 2024, had empowered its members in security, diplomacy and the economy, and that the bloc was determined to resist foreign interference.

“France fears our success because it will end its exploitation of our natural wealth. That is why they are arming terrorists, shifting the battlefield, and using propaganda to weaken our resolve,” Tchiani declared.

He urged the people of Niger and neighbouring Sahel states to remain vigilant and united, stressing that only collective resistance could ensure lasting peace and sovereignty.

France has not yet formally responded to the latest allegations, but Western governments have consistently denied supporting terrorist groups in the Sahel.

Niger accuses France of arming terrorists with weapons, drones to destabilise Sahel, Lake Chad

United Nations Insists Peace, Dialogue, Reconciliation Keys to Sustainable Growth

By: Michael Mike

United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mohamed Fall, has reiterated the need for global commitment to peace, dialogue and reconciliation to bolster sustainable growth.

Fall said this in an address on Monday night in Abuja, during the commemoration of the International Day of Peace, observed annually on September 21.

The event convened under the theme: “Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals” at the Embassy of Germany in Abuja was established by the UN General Assembly in 1981.

Fall noted that the commemoration is to strengthen the ideals of peace among nations and peoples, and emphasise collective action, trust and solidarity in tackling global challenges.

He said “we are meeting not only as a day of a calendar of peace, this is for us a renewed promise of peace, dignity and the future.

“Where every woman, every man, every child, every person with disability can live far from fear. It is a message that speaks to Nigeria.

“It speaks to the nation of a great diversity and resilience, but also a nation still facing challenges that test its peace-building process.”

He added that: “Conflict which Nigeria faces and across its border, have also forced millions from their home, and they are called displaced people or refugees.

This is why today, we are celebrating more than a date. We are celebrating the journey that take us on to improve the well-being of the people we serve here in Nigeria, but also beyond the border of Nigeria.”

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, lamented gaps in efforts to prevent conflict and sustain peace, stating that to this reason the Peacebuilding Commission, Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Support Office were established.

According to her, such have become pillars of a more integrated, inclusive and forward-looking approach to peacebuilding, describing the anniversary as symbolic milestone.

She said: “It is an opportunity to renew our shared commitment to the principles that underpin sustainable peace–national partnership, inclusive governance, long-term partnerships, and a focus on prevention.”

For his part, the Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Joseph Ochogwu, said the day coincided with the 25th anniversary since the establishment of the IPCR.

He said: “We are working bilaterally and multilaterally with the respective institutions from ECOWAS, the African Union, the UN system and other respective multilateral institutions about pursuit of peace.”

A member, House Committee on Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion, Dr Joshua Gana, stressed the need to silence the guns, bridge divides and build societies rooted in justice, dignity and mutual respect.

He noted that: “Peace cannot be legislated alone, it must be cultivated in classrooms, in homes, in markets and the hearts of every citizen, which is why today’s collaboration with the United Nations is so vital.

“Together we must strengthen local peace infrastructures empower women and youth as agents of change and ensure that our policies are not only well intentioned, but well implemented.”

The event also featured keynote speeches by Mr Chris Ngwodo, Director-General, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, the Head, National Peace Committee and the First-Secretary, Embassy of Korea. Kwon Yonggyu.

Highpoint of the event was the release of dove as enduring symbol of peace, freedom and reconciliation, to reflect expression of Nigeria’s commitment to non-violence, dialogue and nation building.

United Nations Insists Peace, Dialogue, Reconciliation Keys to Sustainable Growth

Jerry Gana: Our leaders are no longer thinking…”

By: Michael Mike

Former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana has come hard on present leadership of the country, stating that: “Our leaders are no longer thinking. No more initiative. No more programmes.”

Gana, who was the Chairman at the 25th Year Anniversary of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the Commemoration of the 2025 International Peace Day in Abuja on Monday, noted that leadership is very important and should be enlightened and trained, should be about:
 “Compassionate leadership. Leadership full of ideas, since one idea can transform your whole country.”
 
He however lamented that: “But our leaders are no longer thinking. No more initiative. No more programmes.

“Otherwise, a nation like the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a nation full of these kinds of resources in Nigeria, will be having the kind of realities we are facing now.”

He said: “I don’t love going to the market again in Nigeria. Because prices are changing almost every other day. And things are very, very difficult.”
 
He advised leaders to be fair to all in order not to create disputes in the system that could affect peaceful living.

He said: “Always remember that peace delayed is peace denied. Very, very distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, too often we define peace as merely the silence of guns. But lasting peace is far more profound.
 
“To my own understanding, peace is justice in action. Peace is leadership with integrity. Peace is equitable distribution and being fair in a nation.
 
“In fact, at the heart of peace is justice, equity, and fairness. Wherever there is injustice, you wait. There will be conflict.
 
“Therefore, leaders must avoid injustice. In any society where there is injustice, just wait for it. There will be violent, sometimes, reaction.
 
“So we encourage leaders around the world to pursue justice, fairness, equity. Peace is also a promotion of human dignity. If you really see the sanctity of life and human dignity, you will not want to generate conflict.”

On his part, the Director General of Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu noted that the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace “Act Now for a Peaceful World” as declared by the United Nations, “calls us to action: to stand for peace, to promote dialogue, and to foster reconciliation. It is a day to reflect on how far we have come in our collective pursuit of harmony and, more importantly, how much further we still have to go.”
 
He noted that “the world today is a complex tapestry of challenges, from geopolitical tensions to internal strife, from economic inequality to climate-induced conflict, from violent extremism to divisive narratives in social media. In the face of these headwinds, the message of peace is not a quiet whisper; it is a powerful, urgent clarion call. It is a reminder that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, equity, and dignity for all.”
 
He said: “For a quarter of a century, IPCR has been at the forefront of this noble cause. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are not just marking time; we are celebrating a journey of resilience, commitment, and impact. Twenty-five years ago, the IPCR was established with a clear mandate: to be the intellectual and practical nerve center for peace and conflict resolution in our nation and Africa. We have grown from a nascent institution into a formidable force for positive change.”
 
He explained that “our work has spanned the full spectrum of peacebuilding. We have engaged in community-level mediation, facilitated high-level national dialogues, conducted rigorous research to inform policy, and trained a new generation of peacebuilders. We have worked tirelessly with government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners including the United Nations Institutions to weave a stronger fabric of peace. Our achievements are not just our own; they are the shared success of every community leader, every young person, every public servant, every civil society organization, every international organization, and every corporate organisation who has partnered with us over the years.”

Jerry Gana: Our leaders are no longer thinking…”