Niger’s prime minister has accused France and Ukraine of trying to destabilize the central Sahel, framing the region’s security crisis as part of a broader struggle over sovereignty and resources.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said outside powers seek to convince Sahel states that they are incapable of governing, producing or defending themselves and should instead accept what he called the “tutelage” of Emmanuel Macron’s France and its allies.

Zeine accused France of leading a “perfidious attempt” to destabilize the region with what he described as the active complicity of Ukraine. He said such efforts were now “documented,” while arguing that Sahel countries were determined to defend their sovereignty, resources and political independence.