France prevented us from using Nigerian planes: Simone Gbagbo recalls a 2002 episode

In 2002, during the start of the Ivorian rebellion, Simone Gbagbo states that France prevented Nigeria from using its combat planes sent to Abidjan to support the Ivorian army. Three Nigerian fighter jets arrived in Abidjan but remained on the ground for three days under French pressure before Nigeria apologized and recalled the aircraft. Simone Gbagbo explains that this French intervention limited Ivorian military capacity during this critical period.