General Abdurrahman Tiani, the head of Niger's ruling military council, has reiterated allegations against France, claiming that it played a role in the January 29 attack on Niamey Airport, even though the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara had asserted responsibility for the attack the following day. In a televised interview, Tiani described the incident as part of a "malicious agenda to destabilize" Niger and expressed that his ascent to power through a coup in July 2023 has led to "open hostility" with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Since the ousting of elected President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's authorities have adopted a sovereignty-driven rhetoric, holding Paris responsible for supporting armed groups operating in the country for over a decade. The military government accuses France of financially backing these organizations while France denies any involvement, asserting its commitment to combating jihadist groups in the Sahel before being expelled from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. This ongoing accusation has intensified anti-French sentiment in the region.

Following the airport attack, Tiani also implicated Ivory Coast and Benin, both of which are regional allies of France, for allegedly supporting armed groups, a claim that all three nations have refuted. The deteriorating relations between Niger and France highlight the broader context of regional instability and increasing animosity towards former colonial powers, indicating that the situation in Niger could lead to further geopolitical tensions in West Africa.