LISBON, PORTUGAL - JULY 03: The Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres delivers closing remarks while taking part with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva in the launching of the books "Portugal nas Nações Unidas: 65 Anos de Histórias", and "Portugal Multilateral", as the conclusion of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) and the 65th anniversary of Portugal's accession to it, in Palacio das Necessidades during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic on July 03, 2021, in Lisbon, Portugal. "Portugal at the United Nations: 65 Years of Stories", co-edited by the Diplomatic Institute and Edições Tinta da China, was coordinated by José de Freitas Ferraz and Raquel Duque and has a preface by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. "Portugal Multilateral", Volume I, with a preface by the Portuguese Foreign Minister and co-edited by the Diplomatic Institute and Almedina, was coordinated by Alice Cunha and Nuno Severiano Teixeira and consists of a dictionary with the participation of dozens of authors who reflect on different international organizations, agencies, funds, and United Nations programs. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

UN chief urges global help to fight Niger jihadists

On May 3, 2022

The UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged the international community to help Niger’s military fight jihadist insurgents that have been carrying out frequent attacks.

Speaking during a visit to the capital, Niamey, he said the violence in the Sahel region had become a global threat.

Antonio Guterres said Niger could not face the jihadist security threat alone and called on other countries and regional bodies to help with training and equipment.

France and the United States both have military bases in the country.

Niger is part of a regional force known as G5 Sahel along with Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad.

But the UN chief pointed out that this force has been weakened after two of those countries experienced military coups.

Last month MPs in Niger voted in favour of allowing the deployment of more foreign forces, a real sign of just how deadly, frequent and widespread the attacks have become.

BBC/Christopher Ojilere