‘We refuse to be scapegoats’ - Chad rejects Niger's deadly drone strike accusations
Key Takeaways
- N'Djamena rejects accusations that a drone strike was launched from its territory with French backing.
- Niger says the October 24 attack in Agadez killed two people and injured others.
- Both countries support an international inquiry, while Chad calls on Niger to provide evidence.
Chad denies involvement in a drone strike that Niger says killed two civilians, challenging Niamey to provide evidence of its allegations against N'Djamena and France.
Chad has challenged Niger to provide evidence linking it to a deadly drone strike in the Agadez region, rejecting allegations that the attack was launched from Chadian territory with French support.
Niger claims the October 24 strike killed two civilians, injured several others and damaged government vehicles.
Speaking in a televised statement from N'Djamena on Tuesday, Chadian government spokesperson Gassim Chérif Mahamat denied that his country had played any role in the incident.
"The Chadian government has in no way ordered, conducted or supported any military air operation from its territory against Niger," Mahamat declared.
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He also dismissed allegations that Chad had allowed a foreign power to use its territory to carry out the attack.
"These serious and repeated accusations have no evidential value. The Chadian government refuses to be made a scapegoat for the internal security problems facing Niger," he stated.
Niger maintains that its security forces collected technical evidence identifying the origin of the drone strike. However, the evidence has not been made public.
Authorities in Niamey also announced plans to summon Chad's ambassador over the incident.
Chad responded by accusing Niger of failing to address concerns about armed Chadian rebel groups allegedly operating within Nigerien territory.
According to Mahamat, N'Djamena had repeatedly raised the issue without receiving a formal denial from Niger.
"This logic of suspicion, stigmatisation and confrontation must stop," the Chadian government spokesperson declared.
"The Chadian government demands that the Nigerien authorities cease making public accusations devoid of evidence," he added, warning that Chad would defend its rights and interests through means recognised by international law.
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The latest diplomatic dispute follows similar accusations made by Niger at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
During that meeting, Niger accused Chad and France of planning an attack along its borders but did not publicly present evidence supporting the allegations.
France has not publicly responded to the latest accusations, which remain independently unverified.
Chad has expressed support for an independent international investigation into the October 24 incident and said it remains willing to engage Niger through direct dialogue.
Niger had announced on Monday, October 26, that it would request an international investigation into the alleged strike.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
