This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Niger to pay his respects to the soldiers killed in a devastating jihadist attack on December 10, 2019, at the Inates military camp in the western Tillaberi region.
Macron's visit comes as part of a ceremony to honour the fallen soldiers, who were killed in the attack that shook the Sahel region.
During his visit, Macron will also meet with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou to discuss plans for a summit in the southern French town of Pau on January 13, 2020, which will bring together the presidents of Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and Mauritania.
The summit was initially set for December 16, 2019, but was postponed due to the Inates attack.
France has a significant military presence in the Sahel region, with a 4,500-strong anti-jihadist force dubbed Barkhane supporting the five countries in their fight against a seven-year-old jihadist revolt.
Thousands of civilians have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes in the conflict.
Issoufou announced that a square in Niamey would be named after the commander of the Inates camp, Lieutenant Colonel Hassane Anoutab, who was killed along with his subordinates in the December 10 massacre.
Macron will visit Ivory Coast before heading to Niger, where he will pay his respects to the fallen soldiers.
