Politics

Macron pledges French support Sahel’s fight against extremism

Bissau, Jul 28 (EFE).- France is determined to continue supporting the Sahel and West Africa in the fight against extremism, French president Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to Guinea-Bissau on Thursday.

“I have reiterated to the president (of Guinea-Bissau) France’s determination… to remain committed in the Sahel and in the entire region, but also to change its methods,” Macron said in a joint press conference with his Guinean counterpart, Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

“On the one hand, backing the armies with training, equipment… and on the other hand, insisting that the only strategy that can be effective against the proliferation of terrorist groups is a security agenda at the service of the states,” he added.

But he insisted that that strategy would be “complemented with a political agenda… and a development agenda to create educational and economic opportunities for the population.”

Macron pointed out that they had also discussed the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Conakry, which have all suffered coups since 2020, and the unrest in those countries could further destabilize the entire West African region.

Macron arrived in Bissau on Wednesday afternoon after visiting Cameroon and Benin as part of an African tour that ends Thursday.

This is the first official visit by a French president to Guinea-Bissau. EFE

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