President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to France to step up assistance to Nigeria in tackling the escalating wave of violence in the country’s northern regions, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.
Macron disclosed the request on Sunday, 8 December, following a telephone conversation with Tinubu, according to a report by Reuters. The appeal comes amid growing international concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, particularly in the North.
Speaking after the call, Macron said France would strengthen its partnership with Nigerian authorities as the country confronts multiple security threats, “particularly the terrorist threat in the North.” Writing on X, the French leader added that Paris would increase support for affected communities and called on other international partners to do the same.
Nigeria has witnessed a surge in violent attacks in recent weeks, including mass kidnappings from schools and assaults on places of worship. The worsening situation has drawn sharp attention from the United States, which last month warned it could take action to protect Christian communities in the country.
Washington has accused Nigerian authorities of failing to adequately safeguard Christians, raising the prospect of possible military or diplomatic measures. Abuja has rejected the allegation, insisting that armed groups target both Christians and Muslims and that the security crisis is complex and multifaceted.
Macron did not specify the nature of the additional assistance France might provide. In recent years, France has withdrawn its troops from several West and Central African countries, shifting its focus toward training, intelligence sharing and targeted support provided at the request of partner nations.
Nigeria continues to grapple with overlapping security challenges, including a long-running Islamist insurgency in the North-East, armed banditry and kidnappings in the North-West, and deadly clashes between herders and farmers in parts of the North-Central region. These crises have placed immense strain on the country’s security forces.
The United States has said it is considering measures such as sanctions and expanded Pentagon-led counterterrorism cooperation to push Nigeria to improve protection for vulnerable communities. Nigerian authorities have stated they are open to international support, provided it respects the country’s sovereignty.
France, the United States and Britain have previously supported Nigeria through military training, intelligence sharing and arms supplies as part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s security response.
