The Federal Government has denied reports suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of a French military base in Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday night, the Acting Head of Crisis Monitoring & Public Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, dismissed the claims.
In a brief response, he said the report was “Not true.”
Report indicated that San online news platform had claimed that the federal government had agreed to allow France to set up a military base in Abuja under the guise of a language academy for training Nigerian military personnel in French.
The platform, citing anonymous sources, claimed that President Tinubu had succumbed to pressure from French President Emmanuel Macron during a recent visit to Paris.
It further speculated that the project was being disguised due to its potential strategic and security implications, anticipating backlash from the National Assembly.
The platform also linked the initiative to previous collaborations, such as the inauguration of a French language laboratory at the Nigerian Defense Academy in Kaduna in January 2024.
Recall that in May 2024, the Nigerian government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had denied any discussions or plans with foreign countries to establish military bases in Nigeria.
Idris clarified that no proposals for such bases had been received and urged the public to disregard false claims. He also reaffirmed the government’s focus on existing international cooperation to address security challenges.
Similarly, the French Embassy in Nigeria refuted the claims, aligning with the federal government’s stance.
These denials followed a letter dated May 2024 from northern elders to President Tinubu and National Assembly leaders, cautioning against defence agreements with the United States and France.
The elders expressed concerns about lobbying efforts to station troops previously based in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, warning that such agreements could undermine Nigeria’s defence strategy. They also criticised the effectiveness of foreign military presence, citing the increase in terrorism in the Sahel region despite the involvement of American forces and intelligence personnel in Niger.
France has faced unprecedented, bitter criticism from citizens in its former colonies in West and Central Africa in recent years. From Mali to Ivory Coast, thousands of people have taken to the streets in mass protests, demanding that their governments cut ties with Paris for good.
Some of the resentment dates back to historical controversies linked to colonialism. The French direct rule during colonisation was perceived to have weakened traditional institutions, culture, and leadership while forcing European officials and customs on locals. French officials ruling the colonies were perceived as particularly harsh, both in their administration and attempts to increase France’s economic footholds.
After countries won their independence in the 1960s, Paris built a strong web of connections with African leaders and elites, termed “Francafrique” to protect France’s vast economic interests and to keep French troops on the ground.
More than 200 French companies operate on the continent, including oil and gas giant Total, and Orano, which mines uranium to power France’s nuclear power plants. French troops too have operated across the region, providing training and assisting local militaries.
Several African nations have recently taken steps to end France’s military and political influence within their borders, largely driven by rising anti-colonial sentiments and dissatisfaction with France’s involvement in regional affairs.
Until 2022, French forces were stationed in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
However, growing anti-French sentiment, demands for greater national sovereignty, and shifting geopolitical dynamics have led to the dissolution of several military agreements.
The turning point came with the termination of Operation Barkhane, a large-scale counterinsurgency mission launched by France in 2014 to combat Islamist militants in Africa’s Sahel region.
The mission, which officially ended in 2022, had been central to France’s military strategy in the region.
The operation’s conclusion prompted Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to sever defense ties with France, accusing it of failing to address security threats and interfering in domestic affairs.
Macron first announced in June 2021 that French forces would start a phased exit from the Sahel. By August 2022, French troops were out of Mali, followed by a withdrawal from Burkina Faso in February 2023.
In December 2023, the military government of Niger ordered the expulsion of French soldiers, and the last contingent left the country the very same month.
In November 2024, Chad became another African nation to order the removal of French forces. France had approximately 1,000 troops stationed in Chad, primarily in the capital N’Djamena, which served as a critical logistics hub for Operation Barkhane.
The withdrawal began last month and is expected to be completed by late January 2025.
Daily Trust
