Niger must prepare for 'war' with France, says junta member

A member of Niger's ruling junta has urged his country's citizens to prepare for "war" with France, as relations with the former colonial power hit new lows.

The military regularly has regularly said France is trying to destabilize the country since it came to power in July 2023, junta chief Abdourahamane Tiani recently naming President Emmanuel Macron the "sponsor" of a jihadist attack at Niamey airport.

France, which pulled its forces out of Niger months after the 2023 coup, has consistently denied trying destabilize the country and rubbished suggestions of war on Thursday.

Tiani's chief of staff Amadou Ibro told a rally of young people on Wednesday that he believed France was going to attack the country because French leaders blamed Niger for the poor state of France's economy.

"Know this: we are going to enter into war with France," he said in a speech widely circulated on social media on Thursday.

"We were not at war, it's now that we're going to war with France," he said, as the crowd applauded and some shouted "Down with France".

The French military denied the claims.

"There is no question of French intervention in Niger," said military spokesman Colonel Guillaume Vernet, labelling the comments "information warfare".

Niger, a producer of uranium for use in the nuclear industry, is locked in a dispute with French nuclear giant Orano.

The junta nationalized the local branch of the French firm, which has launched a legal case against the move.

The junta has countersued alleging ecological destruction.