Niger’s military-led government has summoned Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires, accusing its neighbour of acting as a rear base to destabilise the country, Nigerien state television reported.
Tensions between the two West African nations have remained high since Niger’s 2023 coup, which saw it sever ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as ECOWAS chair, had briefly considered military intervention to reinstate ousted Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum. However, relations appeared to improve in August when both nations resumed security cooperation.
Despite earlier efforts to mend ties, Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare accused Nigeria of harbouring officials from Niger’s former regime and colluding with foreign powers to undermine its government.
“Despite efforts to normalise relations, we regret that Nigeria has not given up on serving as a rear base for the destabilisation of Niger with the complicity of some foreign powers and officials of the former regime, to whom it offers refuge,” Sangare said in a televised statement on Thursday.
Nigeria’s military had previously pledged not to interfere with Niger’s stability during talks in August. At the time, Niger agreed to rejoin security operations under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which includes Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad, to combat insurgent groups.
Niger continues to battle insurgents affiliated with Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram, particularly in the western Tillaberi region and the southeastern Diffa area near Nigeria.
Since the coup, Niger has shifted alliances, strengthening ties with Mali and Burkina Faso—two other military-led governments—through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The latest diplomatic spat raises concerns over regional stability and the future of security cooperation in the Sahel.
