German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, according to spokesperson Stefan Kornelius. The two leaders discussed the regional situation, and Merz assured that Germany will continue to support Nigeria’s stabilization efforts.
Merz praised the long and close ties between the two countries and, according to Kornelius, the leaders agreed to deepen economic cooperation.
Nigeria is a political and economic heavyweight in West Africa and plays a central role in ECOWAS. The country is split between a predominantly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south.
In the north, attacks by militant Islamist groups Boko Haram and ISWAP are frequent. After the U.S. Air Force struck those groups in December, the United States sent an additional 100 soldiers to Nigeria on Tuesday to support local forces, with the mission limited to assistance rather than direct combat involvement.
