The rift between Niamey and Paris is widening. During a gathering of young people in a stadium in the Nigerien capital, General Amadou Ibro, chief of staff to General Tiani, called on the population to prepare for an imminent armed confrontation with France.

War rhetoric in front of youth

In a video widely shared on social media, the high-ranking officer stated that Niger was now officially entering a phase of war with the former colonial power.

1. The stated reason: According to the junta, France is seeking to destabilize Niger to compensate for its own economic difficulties.
2. The atmosphere: The speech was met with hostile slogans (“Down with France”) and enthusiastic applause.

Accusations and denials: An information war

Since the coup d'état of July 2023, the Nigerien authorities have been making numerous serious accusations against the Élysée Palace:

1. Support for terrorism: General Tiani recently identified Emmanuel Macron as the "sponsor" of the jihadists responsible for the attack on Niamey airport in January.
2. Destabilization: Paris is regularly accused of wanting to overthrow the military regime.

On the French side, Colonel Guillaume Vernet, spokesman for the Armed Forces General Staff, firmly denied any intention of intervening, describing these statements as pure "information warfare" .

Uranium at the heart of the divorce

Beyond the security rhetoric, the conflict is deeply rooted in issues of economic sovereignty:

Friction point	Details of the situation
Somaïr	The junta nationalized this subsidiary of the French group Orano.
Legal battle	Orano has launched legal proceedings, while Niger threatens to sue the group for environmental damage.
Exports	Niamey announced at the end of 2025 its intention to sell its uranium on the international market, breaking free from its historical partner.

Although France has historically relied on Niger for about 20% of its uranium supply , relations are now completely severed, marking the end of an era after the departure of French troops at the end of 2023.