Nigeria seeks French help to combat insecurity, Macron says
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French President Emmanuel Macron said he conveyed his support to Nigeria as it grapples with several security challenges.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LAGOS – Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has sought more help from France to fight widespread violence
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has witnessed a surge in attacks in volatile northern areas in the past month, including mass kidnappings from schools and a church.
US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of possible military action in Nigeria, accusing it of mistreating Christians. The government says the allegations misrepresent a complex security situation in which armed groups target both Muslims and Christians.
Mr Macron said he had a phone call with Mr Tinubu on Dec 7, where he conveyed France’s support to Nigeria as it grapples with several security challenges, “particularly the terrorist threat in the north”.
“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations. We call on all our partners to step up their engagement,” Mr Macron said in a post on X.
Mr Macron did not say what help would be offered by France, which has withdrawn its troops from West and Central Africa and plans to focus on training, intelligence sharing and responding to requests from countries for assistance.
Nigeria is grappling with a long-running Islamist insurgency in the north-east, armed kidnapping gangs in the north-west and deadly clashes between largely Muslim cattle herders and mostly Christian farmers in the central parts of the country, stretching its security forces.
Washington said in November that it was considering actions such as sanctions and Pentagon engagement on counterterrorism as part of a plan to compel Nigeria to better protect its Christian communities.
The Nigerian government has said it welcomes help to fight insecurity as long as its sovereignty is respected. France has previously supported efforts to curtail the actions of armed groups, the US has shared intelligence and sold arms, including fighter jets, and Britain has trained Nigerian troops. REUTERS
