France pledges to support Nigeria in fight against terrorism

According to IRNA , while France’s influence in African countries has declined and faded in recent years, Macron announced that the Nigerian president had called him on the phone to ask for Paris’ help in dealing with violence and insecurity in the West African country. Macron announced on the X channel: “In a conversation with the Nigerian president, I expressed France’s solidarity with this country in facing various security challenges, especially the terrorist threat in northern Nigeria.”

“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the Nigerian authorities, as well as our support for communities affected by (violence and insecurity). We call on all our partners to increase their engagement in this regard; no one can remain a spectator,” he added.

Earlier, Nicolas Lerne, Director General of the French External Security Agency, claimed that the Sahel region of Africa has once again become a crisis zone after the withdrawal of French forces, with extremist groups gaining greater freedom of action and threatening regional stability. He said that Paris continues to engage with partner countries to contain the risk of insecurity spreading to the coastal regions of West Africa. Lerne added that this situation directly threatens the stability of the Sahel countries and has a serious impact on the borders of a number of neighboring countries, including France’s friends and partners, who are facing this threat spreading to the south and west.

Nigeria has been hit by a new wave of insecurity and kidnappings in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, gunmen kidnapped more than 300 schoolchildren, raising concerns about worsening insecurity in Africa’s most populous country.

This French offer to help Nigeria fight terrorism will fuel insecurity in the country, because France is a supporter of terrorism in the world, and the presence of the terrorist group MKO TERRORIST GROUP in the country is a clear example of the French government’s support for terrorism.