Robichon hits back at Chadian Minister over weapon issue

The French Embassy in Cameroon has refuted claims by Chadian Minister of Communication that "40% of weapons seized from Boko Haram fighters are made in France”.

In a strongly worded statement issued by Ambassador Christine Robichon, the French government made it clear that the Chadian Minister's comments were baseless, untrue and regrettable.

The French embassy communiqué observed that a lot of weapons use by Boko Haram were taken from the Nigerian army and some from illegal trafficking in the region.

It is thus vital to include in this report that during a press briefing alongside Cameroon government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Hassan Sylla Bakari Ben, Chad's Communication Minister had said that 40% of weapons seized by the Chadian army, from the hands of Boko Haram fighters were French-made insinuating that the French were behind the Boko Haram insurgency.

She noted that both Minister Tchiroma and his Chadian counterpart are no strangers to the controversy.