France Cancels Visa of Nigerian Active Maikoul Zodi, a Critic of the Western Military Bases

A Nigerian militant Maikoul Zodi had his French visa canceled by French authorities on Thursday. Zodi is well-known for his criticism of being a part of Western militaries in Africa and particularly French ones.

As per activist Zodi, Zodi French Embassy sent an email to him notifying him that they had canceled his Visa on Thursday, October 20. Zodi also informed AFP that, immediately following that day, he contacted the embassy to request more information regarding his visa cancellation Visaoperation.com says.

"I am informing you that I am canceling your circulatory visa [...] that is valid from 03/05/2022 until 02/06/2023." it was noted in the visa letter of cancellation that Zodi received. Zodi.

Speaking to AFP about the matter The ambassador from France in Niger said that France's Ambassador to the Republic of Niger, Sylvain Itte, stated that a visa isn't an entitlement and is typically granted to those who often travel to France for work reasons however this isn't the case for Maikoul Zodi.

He also told AFP it was true that Maikoul Zodi still had the right to file the visa application should he want to travel to France or other countries within the Schengen region.

An activist Maikoul Zodi is known for his scathing critique regarding the use of foreign military bases in the anti-jihadist war, especially those of the French operations "Barkhane," which previously was pulled back in Niger after they very initially withdrew from its neighboring nation of Mali.

The man is the also coordinator for Tournons la page (TLP) in Niger which gathers together 242 organizations in ten coalitions across Africa as well as one coalition in Europe.

In June of this year, in an interview for AFP, Zodi said that there is an urgent necessity for French collaboration, but that there isn't a desire for France to play a petty part in the Sahel region, which is a region of Africa.

As per Radio France Internationale (RFI) The decision to cancel Zodi's visa came within a couple of days of the restriction of entry and residency in France placed on Canadian-born activist Nathalie Tomb. well-known for her scathing critique of France and the French involvement in Africa.

Prior to that in the past, earlier, French Immigration Service also rejected Moroccan El Grande's visa request, making him ineligible to perform at the concert scheduled for August 11 as an event of the French Semi en Sete Festival.

The Moroccan singer's European tour was canceled because of France's decision to cut half the amount of Schengen visas for Moroccans.

In the aftermath of this, via his Instagram social media, Toto posted a message on his social media account. Toto expressed his sorrow for the circumstance, writing that "having a visa right now is similar to winning the lottery. It's like playing chance. It's exhausting me."