Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tiani has accused France and other Western powers of orchestrating a covert campaign to destabilise the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) — a military alliance comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. In a televised interview aired on RTN over the weekend, Tiani alleged that foreign governments are conducting an indirect war through intelligence operations, regional proxies, and armed groups. Tiani specifically named two alleged French covert networks. The first, reportedly created after Niger’s July 2023 coup, is said to be led by Jean-Marie Bockel, President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy to Africa. It allegedly involves military operatives tasked with preventing the “spread” of AES influence across West Africa.
The second network, dubbed the “Élysée Sahel Cell,” was reportedly formed in September 2024 and is overseen by Christophe Guilhou and key operative Jérémie Robert. Tiani claimed it includes agents from France’s foreign intelligence agency DGSE, diplomats, and members of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, with access to “unlimited funds” aimed at sabotaging the AES.
Tiani also accused Benin of allowing militant groups to regroup in its north under French influence and said former insurgents from the Lake Chad Basin were being redirected to Niger’s borders. He cited an alleged March 15, 2025 meeting involving Western agents and extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, claiming it was meant to fuel conflict within AES states. Nigeria was also implicated. Tiani accused Abuja of offering logistical support and shelter to expelled French troops, referencing meetings on January 25 and February 3, 2025. He also said that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), recently expelled from Niger, attended one of the sessions — a claim the ICRC has not yet addressed.
In response to these alleged threats, Tiani confirmed that the AES joint military force, announced earlier this year, is now operational and conducting field missions. He framed the growing opposition to the Sahel bloc as fear of its independence and ideological challenge to Western hegemony. Tiani also drew parallels with global inaction in Gaza, accusing Western nations of “selective compassion” and applying double standards in their foreign policies. The remarks underscore growing diplomatic isolation and mistrust between the AES bloc and traditional Western allies amid rising regional insecurity and shifting global alliances.
