Niger’s Prime Minister Lamine Zeine Ali Mahaman accused France of seeking to “recolonize” the Sahel during an address to the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA 81), saying the region would defend its sovereignty and control over its natural resources.
Zeine accused foreign powers of using the fight against terrorism as a pretext to maintain influence in the region. He also alleged that France and its allies had carried out operations targeting oil facilities and military bases.
“The Sahel sees. The Sahel hears,” Zeine stressed, according to TeleSUR English.
He said African countries should have greater influence in international decision-making and criticized the lack of a permanent African seat on the UNFA 81.
Africa has 54 countries and more than 1.4 billion people but does not have a permanent seat on the council, Zeine said.
He also rejected what he described as narratives portraying African countries as incapable of governing themselves, arguing that the continent’s natural resources have been exploited while many African countries remain dependent on foreign assistance.
“How can we restore trust when, for decades, propaganda has been used to sustain the idea of a poor Africa?” he said.
Tensions with France
Zeine’s strong remarks come amid strained relations between Niger and France following the July 2023 military takeover that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
French troops withdrew from Niger in December 2023 after the military authorities in Niamey demanded their departure. France had maintained a military presence in the country as part of efforts to combat armed groups operating across the Sahel.
Niger has since strengthened ties with neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali. The three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States, known by its French acronym AES, and have sought to reduce their reliance on Western partners.
In January 2025, the three countries also withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Focus on natural resources
Zeine linked the region’s security challenges to what he described as foreign attempts to maintain access to its natural resources, including Niger’s uranium deposits.
He described the security struggle in the Sahel as part of a broader effort to defend the region’s independence and said Niger’s natural resources should benefit its population.
“Our states’ sovereignty is not negotiable. Our resources belong to our peoples. Our future will no longer be decided elsewhere,” Zeine said.
He also called for reforms to international institutions and greater African representation in global decision-making.
