France to help Benin and Gulf of Guinea states battle militants

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (not seen) at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 22, 2022. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

COTONOU (Reuters) - France aims to "respond positively" to requests from Benin and other countries for air support and intelligence to combat Islamist militants, a French official said on Wednesday, as President Emmanuel Macron arrived in the West African state.

Macron is on a tour of Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau to strengthen political and security ties with countries in West and Central Africa.