Nigeria’s military regime, which was the result of a coup d’état, accused France in a statement read on Saturday night on national television of “deploying its forces” in several West African countries with the aim of “aggression” against Niger, writes AFP.

“France continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries in preparation for the aggression against Niger that it is considering with this community organization,” especially “in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal.” and Benin,” said a member of the regime, Major-Colonel Amadou Abdramane.

After the July 26 coup, ECOWAS threatened military intervention in Niger, for which it announced preparations. The move was backed by France, which has 1,500 troops in the Sahel country as part of the fight against jihadists.

In early August, Nigerian generals in power, who want French soldiers to leave the country, denounced several military cooperation agreements with the former colonial power.

One of these texts, they said, contained a month’s worth of messages.

The regime’s statement said that “on September 1” “the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Niger received in Zinder the commander of French forces in the Sahel to discuss the plan for the withdrawal of French military forces.”

“The withdrawal announcement came to us from an operational level,” which “therefore was not communicated by the general staff of the French armies or the French government and was not the subject of any official communication,” the Niamey regime assured. .

On Tuesday, Paris said talks were underway between the Nigerian and French armies to “facilitate the movement of French military assets”.

“There is a question of keeping part of our forces,” said French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, quoted by AFP. (Agerpres).