First battles in Niger: French forces attacked the National Guard - They released terrorists & set up a civil war - "Urgent Security Warning" from the US
French special forces attacked a military outpost of the Niger National Guard and violated its airspace, according to an official statement by the country's military authorities. | According to Niger's military authorities, French special forces conducted an operation to free imprisoned members of the deposed government and leaders of terrorist organizations. ■ The Niger authorities said that 16 leaders of terrorist groups arrested in June were released by the French armed forces. They further added that it appeared that the French objective was to protect armed cells that were about to operate within the country. ■ Immediately after the announcement, the CNSP (Niger's military authorities) announced in a press release that the level of alert of the armed forces had been raised. "This decision follows a terrorist attack on a garrison. The CNSP is now accusing France of releasing terrorists in the region," Niger sources said. ■ Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Niger has issued an "Emergency Security Warning" advising any US Citizen still in the capital Niamey to take immediate shelter until further notice and not to attempt to enter the city center near the Presidential Palace. A curfew has also been implemented for U.S. Embassy Staff due to the ongoing situation. ■ According to the Niger National Guard: Early today, a French military A400M aircraft took off from N'Djamena (Chad) and entered stealth mode to violate Niger's airspace between 6:39 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. This mode of operation is similar to that used by French forces to provide support to their terrorist partners in Mali. ■ A few weeks ago, the French army released 16 terrorists and helped them plan attacks against the military forces of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali in the Three Borders region. The terrorists released by the French army were subsequently arrested during three operations in June and July 2023 (two in Niger, one in Mali) and confessed about the assistance they had received from the French army. →
■ In addition, the Nigerian National Guard outpost in Burkumburkou (near the Samira gold mine, Liptaco Gourma region) was attacked earlier today. The exact casualties are currently unknown. This pattern of behavior is consistent with France's typical approach whenever an African nation chooses to end its military cooperation with them. It is worth mentioning that France, which supposedly holds the largest European army, has been stationed in the Sahel region since 2013, supposedly to fight terrorists. However, after a decade, the results are evident: due to the presence of French troops, the terrorists have significantly extended their territorial control and have infiltrated the entire Sahel region. ■ Reuters reports that Niger's military authorities have accused French troops of carrying out a plan to destabilize the country, adding that a French aircraft violated Niger's airspace on Wednesday. ■ Meanwhile, former Nigerian rebel and Minister of State, Rhissa Ag Boula, has officially announced the creation of a Council of Resistance for Democracy (CRR). The CRR called on the army to arrest the insurgents, particularly the coup leader Tchiani. The new faction also announced that it would use all available means (without specifying which ones) to fight the coup plotters. ■ Risha Ag Bula said in a statement released today that the Council of Resistance for Democracy (CRR) aims to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained at his residence since the military seized power. "Niger is a victim of a tragedy orchestrated by people who were charged with protecting him," the statement said. ■ The CRR supports ECOWAS and other international actors seeking to restore constitutional order in Niger, according to the statement by Ag Bula which added that the movement would be at the disposal of the organization for any useful purpose. A CRR member said several Nigerian politicians joined the movement but could not publicly announce it for security reasons. ■ Ag Bula played a leading role in insurgencies by the Tuareg, a nomadic ethnic group present in the desert north of Niger, in the 1990s and 2000s. Like many former rebels, he was integrated into the government under Bazoum and his predecessor Mahamadou Isoufou. Although the extent of support for the CRR is not clear, Ag Bula's statement is a cause for concern to Niger's new military government given his influence with the Tuaregs, who control trade and politics in much of the vast north. Tuareg's support would be critical to ensure the new government's control beyond the city limits of Niamey. The Niger Armed Forces, militias and law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been placed on "Increased State of Alert" to defend the country from attacks by the French army. ■ Finally, yesterday's information from WarNews247 is confirmed. The ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff has called for a Force of at least 25,000 troops for military intervention in Niger, with most coming from Nigeria and Small Corps also being provided by Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast, with other ECOWAS members possibly assisting. (Translation: DeepL.com)