France Reaffirms Its Global Commitment to Peace as it Honours Fallen Heroes

•Assures deepening ties with Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

France has reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unity, and multilateral cooperation as the French Embassy in Abuja joined the world to commemorate Armistice Day, marking 107 years since the end of the First World War.

The solemn ceremony, held in Abuja, recognised the sacrifices of French soldiers and all who died for the Republic — not only during the First World War but also in other conflicts around the world — in defence of liberty, democracy, and human dignity.

The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, who led the ceremony, said it was a solemn reminder of the cost of peace and the duty of nations to preserve it.

He praised the bravery of soldiers who fought for the Republic, saying their sacrifices embody the very spirit of France — courage, honour, and service to humanity.

He stated that: “France remembers not only those who fell on the fields of Europe but also those who fought and died in Africa, Asia, and beyond.”

Fonbaustier also reaffirmed France’s strong partnership with Nigeria and its continued commitment to multilateral cooperation, peacekeeping, and humanitarian support in Africa and worldwide. He noted that both nations share a vision of stability and mutual respect built on dialogue and democratic values. “France stands with Nigeria and all peace-loving nations in defending the ideals of freedom and human dignity,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the Defence Attaché of France to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, stated that the commemoration represents more than mere remembrance; it reflects France’s enduring commitment to promoting peace and upholding shared human values. He said, “Every year, generations gather before the monuments of our towns and villages, united in remembrance and strengthened in our shared purpose — to build a world where liberty, security, and dignity are guaranteed for all.”

Useo paid tribute to the courage and selflessness of French soldiers through the ages, noting that their sacrifices continue to define the strength and values of the French Republic. He also shared a personal reflection, revealing that members of his own family were among those who experienced the horrors of war. “For my family, as for many French families, war was not distant history — it was lived experience. It taught us that freedom is never free, and that peace must always be defended,” he said.

He further highlighted the symbolism of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe and the Bleuet de France, the blue cornflower that has represented solidarity with veterans since 1925. The Defence Attaché described the flower as “a small but powerful emblem of compassion, resilience, and unity.”

The ceremony concluded with the laying of wreaths and a moment of silence at the embassy’s memorial plaque, as France renewed its message that remembrance is not only about honouring the past but also about sustaining the collective resolve to secure a peaceful and united future.

France Reaffirms Its Global Commitment to Peace as it Honours Fallen Heroes

The Sahel Descent: Illusion of Russian Mercenaries-Lessons for Nigeria and Africa

•Why Wagner betrayed Africa—and what Nigeria must learn fast.
•Russia’s mercenaries promised security. They delivered bloodshed, racism, and catastrophic failure. Now the jihadists are at the gates—and Nigeria could be next.

By Oumarou Sanou

Bamako is burning—again, and the African Union, the regional body tasked with promoting peace and security, is panicking. The capital of Mali, once a proud symbol of West African resilience, now teeters on the brink of collapse, not from foreign invasion but from jihadists who have outlasted coups, crushed alliances, and exposed the hollowness of the “sovereign security” promised by military juntas and their Russian backers. What began as a bold pledge to “restore stability and reclaim dignity” has descended into chaos, bloodshed, racism, and betrayal—the tragic proof that mercenaries cannot buy peace, and juntas cannot govern by force. The Sahel’s descent is not just Mali’s tragedy—it is a warning to Nigeria and the entire region.

When Mali’s coup leaders expelled French and UN forces and turned to Russia’s Wagner Group in 2021, they sold their citizens a dangerous illusion: that imported soldiers of fortune would succeed where legitimate institutions had failed. Three years later, the results are catastrophic. Jihadist groups are advancing toward Bamako, civilians are dying in record numbers, and the mercenaries once paraded as “liberators” have turned Mali’s soil into a graveyard of false hope.

According to conflict monitors, nearly 3,000 civilians have been killed since Wagner’s arrival—many at the hands of their supposed protectors. Entire communities have been wiped out, markets torched, and villages erased under the pretext of “counterterrorism operations.”

The recently leaked documentary March on Azawad—a chilling self-portrait of Russian mercenaries—reveals the futility and racism embedded in their operations. Wagner veterans, now safely back in Russia, describe Malian soldiers as “cowards” and “thieves,” mocking the very people they were paid to defend. Their disdain echoes the systemic racism of Russian society, where ethnic minorities are treated as expendable cannon fodder. These mercenaries, steeped in bigotry and violence, brought to Africa not solidarity, but supremacy — the same dehumanising ideology that drives their atrocities in Ukraine, Libya, and now the Sahel.

The brutality Wagner displays toward African civilians is not aberrational—it is a feature, not a bug. These mercenaries carry to Africa the same racism they practice at home against ethnic minorities in Russia’s own territories. In Chechnya, Dagestan, and other non-Russian regions, minorities face systemic discrimination, violence, and marginalisation. When these fighters arrive in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, they bring that contempt with them.

Their crimes are well-documented. In Moura, central Mali, at least 500 civilians were massacred in a single operation in March 2022. Men were executed, women assaulted, and children mutilated—atrocities gleefully shared in private Wagner Telegram channels like “White Uncles in Africa +18”, where mercenaries celebrated their brutality with the depraved language of white supremacy. To them, African civilians and terrorists were indistinguishable—both expendable, both “sand people.” This is not counterterrorism. It is a campaign of dehumanisation.

Behind Wagner’s bloody record lies a simple motive: profit. The mercenaries did not come for Pan-African solidarity; they came for gold. Mali pays Wagner not only in cash but in mineral concessions—trading sovereignty for survival. One mercenary admits in the documentary that recovering and seizing gold mines was part of their operational “successes.” They looted everything: motorcycles, trucks, excavation equipment. Mali’s resources now flow to Moscow, while its people bleed in silence.

What began as a “security partnership” quickly degenerated into an extractive occupation. Wagner’s recklessness and racial contempt alienated communities, fractured the Malian army, and emboldened jihadists. The July 2024 defeat at Tinzawaten, where 84 Russian mercenaries died alongside dozens of Malian troops, was not an exception—it was the predictable outcome of arrogance and incompetence. The withdrawal of Wagner and its rebranding as “Africa Corps” in 2025 has done little to stem the tide. Today, Bamako stands at the edge of jihadist capture.

The implications for West Africa—and especially Nigeria—are profound. Insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger does not remain contained; it metastasises. Jihadist groups like JNIM and ISGS have expanded their operations southward, exploiting porous borders, ungoverned spaces, and weak regional coordination. Refugees fleeing the Sahel are already straining Nigeria’s northern communities, while arms trafficking and extremist propaganda infiltrate the hinterland and towns. The possible fall of Bamako would open another corridor of terror stretching from the Maghreb to the Gulf of Guinea—an arc of instability that could engulf the entire subregion. This underscores the need for robust international collaboration in addressing the crisis.

Nigeria must heed this warning with urgency and clarity.

Unlike Mali’s junta, Nigeria has—so far—resisted the temptation of outsourcing its sovereignty to foreign mercenaries. This path has been slow, imperfect, and riddled with challenges, but it is fundamentally different. They have so far relied on their national forces, accountable—however imperfectly—to the constitution, and also engage regional structures such as ECOWAS and the Multinational Joint Task Force, a collaborative security initiative involving several African countries. Nigeria collaborate internationally while preserving national agency.
This is the only sustainable route to lasting peace.

But Nigeria must not grow complacent. Their military architecture still faces serious weaknesses—underfunding, corruption, rights abuses, and inadequate intelligence coordination. Reform is not optional; it is urgent. The country needs a people-centred security strategy built on trust, legitimacy, and professionalism. That means investing in their troops, strengthening community-based intelligence, enhancing regional cooperation, and tackling the root causes that jihadists exploit: poverty, exclusion, and bad governance.

For the rest of Africa, the lesson from the Sahel is brutally clear: mercenaries do not save nations—they strip them bare. Authoritarian juntas that cloak repression in “sovereignty” only invite further collapse. Imported guns or imperial contracts cannot secure Africa’s stability. It must be built through accountable institutions, regional solidarity, and the courage to confront our internal failings head-on.

Mali’s tragedy is a mirror. It shows what happens when desperation replaces strategy, and when sovereignty becomes a slogan for repression. The fall of Bamako—if it happens—will not just be Mali’s failure; it will be a continental warning. Nigeria must learn, act, and lead—because in today’s Sahel, those who chase shortcuts to security end up losing both peace and power.

Oumarou Sanou is a social critic, Pan-African observer and researcher focusing on governance, security, and political transitions in the Sahel. He writes on geopolitics, regional stability, and the evolving dynamics of African leadership. Contact: sanououmarou386@gmail.com

The Sahel Descent: Illusion of Russian Mercenaries-Lessons for Nigeria and Africa

Stampede at Minister of Defense residence leaves one dead, six injured in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

A stampede at the residence of the Minister of Defense, Alhaji Bello Matawalle in Gusau, Zamfara State, has left one person dead and six others injured, security sources confirmed on Friday.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred at about 1930 hours on Thursday when a large crowd gathered to welcome the minister, resulting in chaos and a stampede.

Victims of the incident, including Khalifa Uzairu (m), 23, who was confirmed dead upon arrival at Farida General Hospital, Ayuba Sani, Muhammadu Adams, Aliyu Aminu, Shaaban Hamisu (m), and Inusa Musa Shehu were promptly transported to the hospital.

The remaining injured individuals are receiving medical attention and are reported to be in stable condition.

Security personnel have been deployed to maintain order in the area, and investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the stampede and identify any parties responsible for the incident.

Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and cooperate with security measures to prevent further incidents during official events.
End