Côte d’Ivoire Refutes Niger’s Allegations of Supporting Irredentist Groups

The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire have dismissed allegations by the head of Niger’s military junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accusing them of training Nigerien irredentist groups in Côte d’Ivoire.

The allegations, made during an interview broadcast by Niger’s state television and circulated online, claim that the purported training aims to destabilize the Nigerien government established after the July 26, 2023 coup.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, General Lassina Doumbia, categorically denied the claims, describing them as baseless and lacking evidence.

“The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire remain focused on the defense and security of our nation and strongly reject these grave accusations made without any substantiation,” Doumbia said.

He emphasized Côte d’Ivoire’s longstanding tradition of regional cooperation and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to contributing to peace and stability in West Africa.

“The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire are dedicated to supporting regional stability and urge the Nigerien military authorities to focus on addressing their internal security challenges, which remain far from resolved,” the statement added.

The statement concluded with a call for clarity to dispel any doubts arising from what it described as a sequence of misinformation.