Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar welcomed his French counterpart to Abuja on Friday, Nov. 3. The leaders talked on the political initiatives of the ECOWAS in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
They also supervised the signature of a contract between the government of Nigeria and the French Agency for Development. Bilateral collaboration and increased African representation in international organisations were among the other urgent concerns.
“France as you can see has been consistent in its support for a reform for democratizing the United Nations Security Council, where Nigeria aspires to become a permanent member in the future, and we thank France for that support. We are also very keen on being a part of the G20,” stated Tuggard.
Catherine Colonna, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, declared that her nation will support ECOWAS initiatives “to restore democracy” in the area.
There haven’t been many recent pronouncements from the Nigeria-led West African bloc addressing fresh actions pertaining to junta-led countries.
Following coups, France terminated its counterterrorism military operations in Mali, Burkina Faso, and most recently started to remove its soldiers from Niger. These three nations are now ruled by juntas.
Mali and Burkina Faso’s democratic transitions are at a standstill, while the junta in Niger has rejected ECOWAS calls to promptly restore constitutional order in favour of a three-year transition. Sanctions have been placed on Niger by ECOWAS, but a military intervention remains a last resort in the event that it becomes necessary.
