French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed worry regarding the spread of Islamist extremism across West Africa. He addressed these concerns following discussions with Togo's leader, emphasizing the decade-long violence in the Sahel region.

France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday voiced concern about the spread of Islamist extremism in west Africa, after talks with Togo's leader, Faure Gnassingbe. Violence by jihadist groups has blighted the Sahel region for the last decade, and is now spreading into northern regions of coastal countries such as Togo.