French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to intensify France’s partnership with Nigeria to combat worsening insecurity, particularly the terrorist activities plaguing the northern regions, following a direct phone conversation with President Bola Tinubu. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Macron emphasized France’s solidarity, announcing plans to bolster cooperation with Nigerian authorities and provide greater assistance to communities ravaged by violence.
This commitment comes at Tinubu’s explicit request, amid a surge in attacks, mass abductions, and kidnappings that have stretched Nigeria’s security apparatus to its limits.
Macron detailed the discussion in his X post, stating: “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.”
He continued, “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. No one can remain a spectator.”
The pledge underscores a call for broader international involvement, as Nigeria grapples with a multifaceted crisis including Islamist insurgency in the northeast, armed banditry in the northwest, and farmer-herder clashes in the central belt.
The announcement follows President Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency on November 26, 2025, which included directives for the armed forces to ramp up recruitment amid relentless gunmen attacks and abductions. Nigeria has welcomed external aid while insisting on respect for its sovereignty, with prior support from France targeting armed groups, U.S. intelligence and equipment sales like fighter jets, and UK military training.
Macron’s remarks also arrive weeks after U.S. threats of sanctions and potential military intervention to protect Christian communities, highlighting growing global scrutiny on Nigeria’s instability.
France, having withdrawn troops from West and Central Africa, now prioritizes training, intelligence sharing, and targeted responses to such appeals.
