France Rejects Niger’s Claim It Backed August Mutiny

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot rejected Niger’s accusation that France backed an attempted mutiny at Base 101 in Niamey on August 28–29, calling the allegation “pure fantasy.” Barrot said France had neither the intent nor the means to foment the action. Niger’s Council of Ministers had alleged that dissident members of a special intelligence battalion acted with encouragement from a network led by President Emmanuel Macron’s government. Niger said it had assembled documentation and reserved the right to seek action before international courts; it gave no death toll but acknowledged civilian and military deaths and injuries.