Mahamadou Issoufou on France 24: "A health crisis which is added to the security crisis"

Text by: Sébastien Duhamel

Responding to questions from our colleagues from France 24 on the Covid-19 pandemic, this Friday 3 April, the Nigerien president did not hide his fears of seeing millions of dead on the African continent. Mahamadou Issoufou also spoke about the presence of the French army in the Sahel and traces of the life of hostage Sophie Pétronin.

Publicity

It is an additional alert to the pandemic currently hitting the whole world and which is not sparing the continent. An alert which this time emanates from the Nigerien president during an interview granted to France 24 , while his country has officially listed to date 98 cases and 5 deaths.

Asked about the fears of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Mahamadou Issoufou replied that he shared them and said that he too feared seeing millions of deaths in Africa: " The Covid-19 risks contaminating between 40 and 70% of the world's population. If we apply this to the entire African population, we can easily confirm the figures put forward by the Secretary-General. "

A call for international solidarity

Also asked about the measures put in place in Niger, the Head of State affirms, in addition to the human consequences, that the cost of the response is evaluated " roughly a billion euros, to face in particular the social consequences and economic ”. Mahamadou Issoufou recalls that growth forecasts have been revised downwards and that measures must be taken to limit inflation.

For him, therefore, this is " a health crisis that comes on top of the security crisis ". A considerable financial burden for Niamey faced with which he calls for " a very strong expression of international solidarity " and - using the interviewer's words - " a Marshall plan for Africa ". More broadly, Mahamadou Issoufou wants " a new paradigm " in terms of political and economic global governance.

The anti-jihadist fight, " a common fight "

In addition questioned on the question of the fight against terrorism and on a possible withdrawal from Operation Barkhane - like the withdrawal of French troops engaged in Iraq announced on March 25 - the Nigerien president thinks that the engagement of Paris will continue: " I am convinced that France will stay with us ," said Mahamadou Issoufou after welcoming " a mark of solidarity " in what is " a common fight ".

Traces of life of Sophie Pétronin

Another subject was briefly discussed during this interview, that of the French Sophie Pétronin, who was abducted in Mali in December 2016. While a few days ago, the relatives of the hostage announced that France has evidence of Recent life , Mahamadou Issoufou said that Niger has the same information. " We also know, although she is sick, that her state of health has not deteriorated, " concluded the Nigerien president.

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Niger
• Mahamadou Issoufou
• our selection
• Coronavirus
• Health and Medicine
• Containment

On the same subject

Coronavirus in Niger: the government announces a curfew in Niamey and many remissions of sentence

Niger: government supports first cases of coronavirus

Pilgrimages to Mecca suspended: Niger pilgrims will be compensated