France, the main target of the Islamists in the Sahel

A few hours after the kidnapping of seven French in northern Cameroon, it was still too early to tell whether  or not this new kidnapping is related to the war against Francewhich is led by the armed Islamist groups in Mali. But if, as feared by François Hollande, the operation was mounted by the Nigeria Islamist sect Boko Haram, which has ties with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), it is not too early to consider ,writes the French daily Le Figaro.

Operation Serval has gone remarkably smoothly so far, but if a link is established between the ongoing operation in Mali and the hostages in Cameroon this would meanthat itwas the first reversal suffered by the French,  the newspaper says. Since 2005 France has been the principle target of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Le Figaro notes that the attempt to release the hostage Michel Germaneau in northern Mali in 2010 provoked the wrath of the boss of AQIM, Abdelmalek Droukdal,who dennounced it as a "betrayal" in negotiations: "You missed the opportunity and you open the door of the horror for you and your country," he said.

French interests in Mali and Niger and French nationals generally in West Africa are being guarded ,Schools are being closed and French jounalists covering the conflict are known to be under threat.Francoise Hollande has ruled out paying ransoms and  but his options for releasing the hostages boil down to militay pressure in the north of Mali, commando raids or the possible help ofthe Tuaregs. France is the main target of the Islamists andthe hostage taking in Cameroon comlicates the situation even further, Le Figaro concludes.