Niger’s military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani on Thursday blamed the French, Benin and Ivory Coast presidents for sponsoring the attack on Niamey international airport, an accusation he made without offering any evidence.

Gunfire and ‍loud explosions echoed around Niger’s international airport in Niamey shortly before midnight in what two security sources described as a “terrorist attack”, before calm returned to the capital on Thursday morning.

Tiani accused French President Emmanuel Macron, Benin’s Patrice Talon, and Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara by name, while speaking on Niger’s state television after visiting the airbase. He vowed retaliation.

“We have heard them bark, they ⁠should be ready to hear us roar,” he said, signalling further worsening of the relationship between the Sahel nation, its neighbours he sees as French proxies in the region, and the former colonial power.

The offices of the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast could not be immediately reached for comment.