Niger: At the UN, Lamine Zeine accuses France and Ukraine of destabilizing the Sahel

Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine directly accused France of orchestrating a destabilization campaign in the central Sahel, with what he termed the “active complicity” of Ukraine, during his address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. In the same speech, he praised Algeria’s support for Niger in defense, natural resource management, and various sectors of cooperation.

Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine characterized the regional security crisis as an attempt at “recolonization” of the Sahel, driven, he claimed, by the desire for natural resources. He asserted that this campaign would be “led by France” with the “active complicity” of Ukraine.

These remarks align with the narrative promoted for several years by the authorities of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, who are united within the Alliance of Sahel States. The three countries have strengthened their political and security cooperation while reducing ties with several traditional Western partners.

The Sahel at the heart of Niger’s speech at the UN

In New York, the Nigerien Prime Minister framed the situation in the Sahel as a matter of sovereignty as much as security. He defended the right of the region’s states to choose their partnerships and to determine the terms of their resource exploitation.

Since 2023, Niger has been undergoing a profound restructuring of its foreign relations. Niamey has notably terminated several military cooperation agreements with Western partners and strengthened its ties with other members of the AES.