Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has sought more help from France to fight widespread violence in the north of the country, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday.
This comes weeks after the United States threatened to intervene to protect Nigeria’s Christians.
Macron conveyed France’s support to Nigeria, particularly in addressing the terrorist threat in the North, following a phone call with Tinubu.
“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations,” Macron said in a post on X.
The Nigerian government has welcomed help to fight insecurity, as long as its sovereignty is respected.
France has previously supported efforts to curtail armed groups, while the US has shared intelligence and sold arms, and Britain has trained Nigerian troops.
Nigeria is grappling with a long-running Islamist insurgency in the northeast, armed kidnapping gangs in the northwest, and deadly clashes between cattle herders and farmers in the central parts of the country, stretching its security forces.
