Niger: the security of the French in the Sahel will be strengthened, announces Macron

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President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that French security measures in the Sahel will be "reinforced" after the death of eight people, including six French humanitarian workers, in an attack in Niger on Sunday.

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"  I have decided to strengthen security measures for our nationals in the region,  " said the Head of State in a tweet posted at the end of the defense council bringing together his main royal ministers, devoted to the legal and military consequences. and diplomatic of this attack, which he chaired by videoconference from Fort Brégançon on Tuesday, where he is on vacation. He did not give details on the measures that should be put in place, in particular by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I have decided to strengthen security measures for our nationals in the region. We are pursuing action to eradicate terrorist groups with the reinforced support of our partners.

"  We are doing everything possible to support the families of the victims and respond to the attack which cost the lives of six of our compatriots and two Nigeriens  ", also assured Emmanuel Macron. "  Members of the NGO Acted, these six young people testified to a remarkable commitment to the populations  ", he added.

The French president wished to draw the consequences, in particular “  military  ”, of this attack, not claimed, but which he qualified as “  manifestly terrorist  ”.

"  It is important that we can take stock of the situation in Niger, the elements that are in our possession, the progress of the investigation, the diplomatic steps that we must take, obviously the military consequences that we must. draw the consequences on all of our systems in the  Sahel region ”, said the Head of State.

"  We are pursuing action to eradicate terrorist groups with the reinforced support of our partners,  " said Emmanuel Macron. Some 5,100 French soldiers are deployed in the Sahel as part of the Barkhane force to fight against armed jihadist groups, in support of the armies of the five countries in the region, including Niger.

In recent months, the French army and those of the African countries of the G5 Sahel have stepped up offensives in the region, in particular in the area known as the “three borders” between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

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• Niger
• France
• Emmanuel Macron

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