French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed France’s strong solidarity with Nigeria as the country grapples with escalating security threats, particularly terrorism in the northern region.
In a message shared on X, Macron revealed that he spoke directly with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. He assured that France would deepen its cooperation with Nigerian authorities to address the security situation and provide assistance to affected communities.
Macron stated, “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 support for the affected populations. We call on all our partners to increase their engagement. No one can remain a spectator.”
This commitment from France follows a surge in violent attacks and kidnappings in northern Nigeria, which has drawn international concern.
Meanwhile, the United States recently redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to alleged religious freedom violations, raising the possibility of U.S. military involvement. However, the Nigerian federal government has consistently denied claims of targeted persecution against Christians, emphasizing that insecurity affects all religious groups.
In light of these challenges, Nigeria has sought increased diplomatic support from global partners. On November 20, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon to discuss collaborative strategies for tackling the security crisis.
