Hunting the bear, besieging the dragon: France changes strategy in Africa to confront Russia and China
France is working to change its strategy towards Africa and
to exploit its presence in concluding bilateral relations with the countries of
the continent, rearranging its cards and not losing that presence in favor of
either Russia or China.
This change was mentioned in a speech by French President
Emmanuel Macron on Monday, February 27, where he said that his country’s
military operations in Africa must be in the service of bilateral relations,
stressing that Paris must show humility towards the African continent.
Balanced relationships
Macron added that France is working to adopt a balanced
relationship with African countries as a whole and is ready to support the
establishment of a common currency for most countries of the continent. He also
revealed that there will be an end to conventional military bases in Africa,
pointing to an expected tangible reduction in the number of French military
personnel present in Africa.
The French president explained that the state's strategy
will be represented in academies that bring together the French and African
armies, which will replace military bases on the continent.
French in Niger
France withdrew its forces from Mali in 2022 after spending
a long period fighting terrorism in the African Sahel region, which came after
Mali’s military council began working with Russian military contractors.
In July 2022, French officials went to Niger to redefine
Paris' strategy to combat terrorists in West Africa, with the completion of the
withdrawal of thousands of French forces from Mali and the growing concerns
about the threats of armed elements to West African Sahel countries.
By the summer of 2023, France will seek to formulate a new
strategy for redeployment across Niger with the aim of combating terrorism in
the region in light of international concerns about the spread of threats by
terrorist elements and the displacement of residents from their homes, which
were exacerbated after the departure of 2,400 French soldiers from Mali, the
center of al-Qaeda and ISIS.
In the face of China and Russia
For her part, Dr. Amira Mohamed Abdel Halim, an expert in
African affairs, said that recent developments in the Sahel region have
prompted France to change the philosophy that Paris pursues towards the
continent as a whole.
In a special statement to the Reference, Abel Halim
confirmed that the strategy France is pursuing is to provide support to the
local forces, but they are not in the initial ranks, as well as to provide
logistical support for them.
She added that the security challenges that France faced in
Africa during the recent period as a result of the strong presence of both
Russia and China made it change its way of thinking on the continent, while
Paris did not lose its presence and influence in the Sahel region.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Fouad Rashwan, an expert in
African studies, said that France took another path after the popular rejection
against its presence in the Sahel region, which is to open new horizons with
African countries by concluding bilateral agreements with their governments.
Rashwan confirmed in a special statement to the Reference
that these agreements are in the field of energy, oil and other natural
resources, which are spread throughout the Sahel region.
He added that France is adopting a pragmatic approach with
the Sahel countries, namely by benefiting from the countries of the region
through those agreements with the governments of the region, without
interfering in the affairs of the countries.