French FM says security operations in the Sahel achieved significant results
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - The French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean Yves Le Drian, said on Thursday in Niamey that security operations in the Sahel, led by the Barkhane force, the joint force of the G5 Sahel and African national armed forces, have produced very significant results.
"This made it possible to have positive results since the storm operations gave very significant results which show that, gradually, the security issues are being raised, being mastered", added Mr. Le Drian, following a meeting with the Nigerien head of state, Mahamadou Issoufou.
The French foreign minister said he discussed security issues with the Nigerien head of state.
He said: "We discussed the monitoring of the Pau and Nouakchott commitments and the monitoring of the implementation of the coalition for the Sahel. Security operations are continuing, Operation Barkhane, coordination between Barkhane, the joint force of the G5 Sahel and the national armed forces.
"France considers that the security of Niger is also the security of France. When we have attacks in Niger, we feel attacked like the Nigeriens. I think that Nigeriens are also attacked when there are attacks in France and when there have been Inatès, Chinagoder, Kouré (Nigerien localities victims of terrorist attacks), just like in France, in Nice, Vienne, I think it is the same fights," said the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The security aspect, like that of development, is common for France and Niger, he said.
"I am not forgetting the consequences of the serious floods in Niger. France had participated, through emergency aid, in remedying the difficulties of the affected populations in the regions of Niamey and Maradi," he recalled.
"We are going to continue our action in the field of development, since French official development assistance was 280 million euros for a whole series of projects including, in particular, hydraulic projects and also in the fields of education, food security and economic development,” he continued.
-0- PANA SA/JSG/SOC/KND/VAO 6Nov2020
