France secretly armed Biafra in the self-proclaimed republic’s attempt to break away from Nigeria in a bid to weaken British and US influence in Africa, documents seen by RFI reveal 50 years after the beginning of a war that cost up to two million lives.

The ethnic Igbo-majority Eastern Region declared its independence on 30 May 1967,

following a military coup, a counter-coup and what French diplomats described as “pogroms” of tens of thousands of Igbo living in northern Nigeria the previous year.

The attempt to break away led to a 32-month war, which was to see about between 500,000 and two million deaths from starvation caused by Nigeria’s blockade of the breakaway region.


Nigeria’s former colonial ruler, Britain, backed the Lagos government’s One-Nigeria policy, covertly providing weapons and military intelligence.


The US declared itself neutral, while the Soviet Union gave full support to the Nigerian government.

Although France – unlike allies Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire -- never recognised Biafra diplomatically, it backed what then president Charles de Gaulle called its “just and noble cause.”

Anglophone giant

De Gaulle saw the conflict as a means to weaken the “anglophone giant” of west Africa, which was surrounded by former French colonies closely aligned with Paris through a policy of defending French interests that would come to be known as Françafrique .

The French “Africa cell”, headed by the controversial Jacques Foccart, sent large quantities of arms to the Biafran side, taking care to keep the operation secret from the Quai d’Orsay.

The planes carrying the weapons had to pass through the airspace of several countries that opposed the process, prompting a complaint by Morocco, which had not granted them access.

They landed at Uli, “Africa’s busiest airport”, according to Biafra supporters. But it was in such a poor state that pilots flying for Nigeria, including South African mercenaries, sometimes mistook it for a stretch of road.

Pilots recruited by Biafra were in the know and managed to bring 75 tonnes of rifles, assault rifles, bazookas, grenades and cannon in just 11 days in 1969, documents show.

Appeal for more weapons

But, with the Biafran side losing ground, Foccart’s men appealed for more.
Warning that the breakaway territory could fall “before the end of October [1969]”

Defeat did in fact come in January 1970 but not for want of French arms, as telegrams from the French embassy Lagos reported,

Gowon warned the diplomat against any action that might threaten Nigeria’s territorial integrity but Barbey told his superiors that “France is certainly not the target” of the warning, since it was Israel that was sending mercenaries to the territory.

Not all francophone countries in Africa sided with Biafra.

Senegal sent a diplomatic envoy to Enugu, the Biafran capital, with the hopes of convincing the separatists to backpedal.

And landlocked Niger, which depends on Nigeria for its access to the sea, went further. It played a key role in the transfer of Belgian and Swiss arms supplies.

Weapons were flown in on Sabena flights and held in storage in the Niger presidential palace before being sent by lorry across the border to Kanu, French cables indicate.

The war dragged on until January 1970 when a young Nigerian officer,

Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo announced on Radio Biafra that the conflict was officially over.

Obasanjo became Nigeria’s head of state in 1976 and again in 1999.


http://m.en.rfi.fr/africa/20170525-how-france-armed-biafras-bid-break-nigeria

As a Niger Deltan I sincerely respect the decisions of the Biafrans. if you are tires o the country you move on.
but looking at fact and considering the part of earth we occupy full of dictatorship and brain dead leaders who see self determination and referendum as a declaration of war I will rather demand for Restructuring with resource control inclusive.

Which is the best option at the moment

Note: the Biafran question can't be solve without the military. all the bloody civilians making noise around are just playing to the gallery. The military ended the first agitation the will also decide the current one

lalasticlala

.

Y

hmmm, i no rememba wetin i won talk sef

FAKE NEWS...


So it was the French that disagreed on the terms of the Abori accord? Millions died - because the Nigerian Government was almost loosing the War, it was believed the war would last for some 3 month but it took longer than ever expected.

Hunger was the only opinion left on the fables of the Nigeria side... Yes the stupid fools played dirty to people they, you referred to as Nigerians.

SwiftNerd:
FAKE NEWS...


So it was the French that disagreed on the terms of the Abori accord? Millions died - because the Nigerian Government was almost loosing the War, it was believed the war would last for some 3 month but it took longer than ever expected.

Hunger was the only opinion left on the fables of the Nigeria side... Yes the stupid fools played dirty to people they, you referred to as Nigerians.

dude what are you ranting

Rikidony:
As a Niger Deltan I sincerely respect the decisions of the Biafrans. if you are tires o the country you move on.
but looking at fact and considering the part of earth we occupy full of dictatorship and brain dead leaders who see self determination and referendum as a declaration of war I will rather demand for Restructuring with resource control inclusive.

Which is the best option at the moment

Note: the Biafran question can't be solve without the military. all the bloody civilians making noise around are just playing to the gallery. The military ended the first agitation the will also decide the current one

lalasticlala

AFOnja, stop masquerading. Afonjas English is unique, it can always be detected. While your point is noted, you should stop claiming Niger Deltan.