Niger’s president faces fire at home over attack on Nigeria

Niger’s President Abdourahmane Tchiani is facing a backlash of criticism from his fellow countrymen following his recent allegation of a conspiracy by Nigeria against his country.

Tchiani in a Christmas Day interview claimed, among other things, that Nigeria had provided a base for French soldiers near Lake Chad had established training camps for terrorists in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, all aimed at destabilising Niger.

The Federal Government has dismissed the allegations as baseless, with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, being the latest government official to debunk the claims.

Many Nigerien citizens reacting on social media to Tchiani’s claims against Nigeria say there is no credibility whatsoever in the allegations.

Some of them are of the view that the Nigerien leader was only looking for an excuse to hang his failure in office on after 17months of ousting his predecessor, Mohamed Bazoum, in a palace coup.

One Nigerien critic even alleged that loyalists of the Niamey military regime are under instruction to spread falsehood that France in collaboration with Nigeria and other neighbouring countries plans to invade Niger.

A Nigerien commentator, Maidalili Namu, spoke of alleged frustration of the Tchiani regime to stabilise the country as they promised to do after deposing Bazoum.

Namu claimed on Muduba Mugani podcast that the country is being ruined by those he branded 16 generals.

“You have been in power for 17 months, confined to the villa and fed with false information that clouds your judgment,” PR Nigeria quoted Namu as saying of Tchiani in a video recording.

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Namu also accused the Nigerien strongman of fostering animosity both regionally and internationally, sowing seeds of discord with Niger’s neighbors and other nations.

He said: “When it was announced that you would address the nation at 8 pm on December 25, 2024, in Hausa, Zabarma and French, the prevailing rumour was that your speech would lack originality, filled only with the usual condemnation of France, ECOWAS, Nigeria and others as our adversaries.

 “Some even wagered that they would give goats or cash if you didn’t mention France in your address.

“Nigeriens are fed up with your repetitive statements that yield no progress.

“What is most frustrating is that you vindicated their predictions. Some even began to tally how many times you mentioned France, Nigeria and ECOWAS, suggesting they are conspiring to destabilise Niger.

“You have accused numerous countries, both within and outside Africa, of undermining Niger, leading some to question your mental fitness for leadership.

“Your diplomatic failures are evident. You have insulted numerous leaders from various countries, implicating at least 20 nations in a conspiracy against Niger, many of whom we have no direct relations with.

“The real issues affecting Nigeriens—economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, fuel scarcity and the rising cost of living—were overlooked.

 “Instead, we heard the same old narrative of external threats and unfounded claims of terrorist camps supervised by the French.

“You asserted that camps have been established for training terrorists in Burkina Faso and Niger—concluding that by the end of 2024, at least 400 terrorists will be trained under French supervision.

“If you possess accurate information about these camps, why do you not coordinate efforts to dismantle them instead of using this information merely as a talking point?

“You must recognise that none of the leaders you’ve insulted have retaliated; you have disparaged leaders from countries like Tanzania, Mauritania, Chad and others. If your assertions hold any truth, how can we possibly survive more than 24 hours amidst the threats you mention?

Niger’s president faces fire at home over attack on Nigeria

THE NATION

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Mozambique: Over 1,000 prisoners escape jail as election protests worsen

No fewer than 1,500 prisoners have escaped from a prison in Mozambique, taking advantage of ongoing political unrest triggered by disputed election results, police say.

According to police chief Bernardino Rafael, thirty-three people were killed and 15 injured in clashes with guards.

About 150 more fugitives have since been recaptured, he added.

Protests broke out on Monday in response to Mozambique’s highest court confirming that the ruling Frelimo party, in power since 1975, had won October’s presidential elections.

Mr. Rafael stated that groups of anti-government protesters had approached the prison in the capital, Maputo, on Wednesday. Prisoners used the unrest to knock down a wall and escape, he said.

Mozambique has been rocked by civil unrest since disputed elections in October. Official results showed the ruling Frelimo’s candidate for president, Daniel Chapo, winning.

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Fresh protests erupted on Monday, when the constitutional court decided that Chapo had won the election but reduced his margin of victory.

In October, initial results showed Daniel Chapo with 71% of the vote versus Venâncio Mondlane’s 20%.

The court has now determined that he won 65% to Mondlane’s 24%. A BBC reporter discovered Maputo was like a ghost town on Christmas Eve, with practically all shops closed and residents remaining at home to avoid being caught up in the city’s worst unrest since Frelimo first took office in 1975.

Frelimo offices, police stations, banks, and factories have been robbed, vandalised, and set on fire around the country.

Mondlane, who has since fled Mozambique, had been urging his supporters to protest what he claimed was a corrupt vote. In a weekend social media statement, he predicted a “new popular uprising” if the outcome was not reversed.

Approximately 150 people have been killed in three months of protests following the elections.

Mozambique: Over 1,000 prisoners escape jail as election protests worsen