Hunting the bear, besieging the dragon: France changes strategy in Africa to confront Russia and China

Ahmed Adel

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.