Cote D’Ivoire Fires Back, Denies Sponsoring Terrorist Groups To Destabilise Niger Republic
Adedokun Waliyu 
General Lassina Doumbia and Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, in a statement issued on Saturday, described the claims as baseless and lacking evidence, emphasising that their focus remains on national defense and security.
The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire have vehemently denied allegations made by Niger Republic junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accusing them of training Nigerien irredentist groups to destabilize the Nigerien government.
General Lassina Doumbia, Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, in a statement issued on Saturday, described the claims as baseless and lacking evidence, emphasising that their focus remains on national defense and security.
Doumbia reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to regional cooperation and contributing to peace and stability in West Africa.
He urged Nigerien military authorities to address their internal security challenges, which remain unresolved.
The English version of the statement partly read: “In a video broadcast by Nigerien state television and circulating on the internet, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the ruling junta in Niger, felt it necessary, in an interview, to launch into a series of recriminations against in particular the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, which he openly accuses of contributing to the military training of alleged Nigerien irredentists who have taken refuge in Côte d’Ivoire.
“The objective of this training, according to General Abdourahamane Tchiani, would be to destabilise the power resulting from the putsch of July 26, 2023. The seriousness of the accusations made, the chosen media and the personality of the speaker require clarification in order to dispel the doubts that this succession of untruths could raise.
“The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, which remain focused on the defense and security of Côte d’Ivoire, oppose these serious accusations made, without any evidence, by the Head of the junta in Niger.
“The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, faithful to their long tradition of cooperation with countries in the sub-region, remain committed to continuing to make their contributions to regional peace and stability.
“They therefore request that the Nigerien military authorities focus on their security objectives, which, unfortunately, are far from being achieved for the time being.”
