Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou has stated that Libya ''continues to be a source of destabilisation for the countries of the Sahel", after militant attacks in Niger last week.
Speaking to reporters, Issoufu went on to add,
"I had said that if the Libyan state turned into a Somalia or fell into the hands of fundamentalists, the solution would be worse".
He also stated that whilst Libya was doing their best to control the situation,
"it is possible that in the future there would be more infiltrations".
Issoufu was speaking after attacks on a military barrack and French-owned uranium mine, allegedly planned by an Algerian militant, which only ended after fierce battles between the militants and Niger soldiers backed by French special forces.
The Islamist Signed-in-Blood Battalion and Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao) jointly claimed responsibility for the attacks.