Ahmad 
Nigerien authorities announced the discovery of weapons stores in houses in the capital Niamey occupied by French soldiers, after a search by the gendarmerie and police of Niger.
The Nigerien government said in a statement broadcast on state television: “The search operations took place at the headquarters of the former European civil-military operation (Yokab Sahel), and a house that was occupied by French trainers before they left the country,” adding: “The weapons caches are military operations centers and at the same time caches for weapons and ammunition.”
During the searches, security forces discovered anti-tank rocket launchers, assault rifles, drones, grenades, vehicles, as well as geographical maps, including a map of the city of Niamey in which all strategic places in the capital were identified and marked.
Nigerien public television said: “At the current stage of our relations with France, these are carefully planned measures to sow chaos in Niamey.”
French forces withdrew their last troops from Niger’s capital Niamey in late December, concluding their military presence in the country.
