News - Middle East: Niger’s junta leaders say France is deploying its military forces to West African countries with a plan for “aggression” against its former colony.

“France continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries as part of preparations for aggression against Niger, which it is planning in collaboration with this community organization,” Niger’s regime spokesman Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane said on Saturday.
In his statement, Abdramane said France had deployed military aircraft, helicopters and 40 armored vehicles to Cote d’Ivoire and Benin.
“Military cargo aircraft have enabled large quantities of war material and equipment to be unloaded in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin, to name but a few,” he added.
The junta seized power from President Mohamed Bazoum in a July coup staged by the presidential guard who later gained support from the rest of the country’s military forces and the Muslim nation.