By RFPosted on 12-12-2019Modified 12-12-2019 at 02:50

The Elysee has announced that because of the jihadist attack in Niger on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron, in agreement with his Nigerian counterpart Mahamadou Issoufou, has decided to postpone to the beginning of 2020 the summit with the leaders of the five countries of the Sahel planned in France on December 16th.

Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday evening called the Nigerian president and both agreed " to propose to their counterparts to postpone the start of the year 2020 the holding in France of the summit dedicated to Operation Barkhane and the joint force of the G5 Sahel, "said the French presidency, adding that the French head of state expressed" his support and solidarity "to his Nigerian counterpart following the attack on the garrison at Inates .

France has sent on the spot the chief of staff of the armies who will meet President Issoufou. Finally, the Elysee states that the two presidents have marked their determination to remain united in the face of the threat of terrorist groups and to " redefine together the political and operational framework to act for the security of the populations and states of the Sahel ".

Polemic on the invitation

The announcement of this summit had aroused many criticisms, the invitation of the head of the French state was perceived by some as a convocation . However, a few hours before, the French presidency had indicated that all the heads of state of the G5 had " confirmed " their presence at the summit of Pau Saturday.

An announcement contradicted in Ouagadougou by President Kaboré. During a televised interview Roch Marc Christian Kaboré had indeed announced that the heads of state of G5 Sahel would first agree to adopt a common position, adding that the tone and form of the invitation had lacked tact, and generated an uproar within African public opinion.

" The partnership must be respectful of each other, said Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. I think that the tone and the terms used before the invitation are problematic because it is the content of the debates that we must have together. This means that we must have relationships of mutual respect. "

Condolences to Nigerians

The Burkinabe President took the opportunity to support the people of Niger following the attack on the Inates garrison. " On behalf of the government and the people of Burkina Faso, I offer our sincere condolences and our compassion for the families who lost these soldiers. "

According to Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, all these attacks show that the fight against terrorism " is not an issue that will be settled in a short time ."

    On the same subject

    Niger: dozens of soldiers killed in garrison attack at Inates

    Sahel: France officially invites the Malian president to the summit of Pau

    Head of the European diplomacy pleads for reinforced missions in the Sahel

    comments