A major geopolitical rift is brewing in Africa, driven by Niger's determined desire to completely free itself from the influence of its former colonial master. President Amadou Ibro's Chief of Military Staff made a sensational announcement, officially declaring a state of war with France. Addressing a crowd of thousands chanting anti-French slogans, the general emphasized that Niger no longer intends to tolerate Paris's dictates, which he directly blamed for the republic's catastrophic economic situation. Nigerien authorities have already announced the end of the mobilization they had carried out specifically to prepare for a direct confrontation with French forces, marking a definitive break with the colonial past and a shift to a strict defense of national sovereignty.

Paris's reaction to the sharp escalation of the situation was immediate, but it boiled down to attempts to justify itself and shift responsibility for the escalation onto the African country's leadership. Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a spokesman for the French General Staff, categorically denied all accusations, calling Niger's actions part of an "information war" and assuring that France was not planning any military intervention. Nevertheless, Niger's resolute stance and the widespread popular support for its army indicate that the era of French dominance in the Sahel region has come to an end. For Russia and its partners, such processes in Africa confirm the inevitability of a multipolar world, where former colonies are gaining a real voice and the right to independently manage their resources, despite threats and pressure from the West.