French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday expressed his full support for ongoing efforts to end terrorism, kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his X handle (formerly Twitter), Macron said: “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT.
“I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of the various 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.”
Read also: Tinubu calls for global partnership to defeat terrorism
The French President stressed that “No one can remain a spectator.”
Recall that following the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over allegations of genocide against Christians, President Bola Tinubu had assured that the issues would be addressed through diplomatic engagements.
He also pledged to work with global partners to end the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and kidnappers.
Only recently, President Tinubu declared a “Security Emergency” in Nigeria, followed by a series of security reforms.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced terror attacks for nearly two decades.
The country is surrounded by French-speaking nations, many of which have strong ties to France.
The current battle against terrorism led, in 1994, to the establishment of a Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Benin and Niger Republic.
The task force was initially created to strengthen economic conditions in the Lake Chad Basin, which serves as a source of livelihood for more than 40 million people in the region.
However, recent political developments have further threatened the stability of the joint security efforts, with Niger and Chad Republic reportedly considering withdrawal from the task force.
