The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Femi Oluyede, welcomed the first French troops in Maiduguri yesterday for immediate deployment to assist in combating Boko Haram insurgents.
This move comes despite recent government assertions that Boko Haram has been largely neutralised and no foreign military bases would be established in Nigeria.
Recall that Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa had dismissed reports of establishing a French base in Nigeria. The reports came after President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to France at a time when several African nations are cutting military ties with France.
Tinubu’s trip was framed as a step toward strengthening diplomatic and economic ties, and questions were asked about the potential costs to Nigeria’s sovereignty. The deployment of French soldiers to Nigeria to assist in combating insurgency starkly contrasts the growing trend of African nations distancing themselves from French influence.
Chad recently terminated its defence cooperation agreements with France, with Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah citing the country’s need to assert its sovereignty fully after decades of post-colonial dependency.
Senegal has also announced plans to end French military presence, with President Bassirou Faye highlighting historical grievances such as the Thiaroye massacre to explain the decision.
The first phase of French troop withdrawals from Chad began on December 10, following the country’s formal declaration to end the cooperation agreements. Côte d’Ivoire has also signalled plans to reduce French military presence.
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