France is one of the countries that have a long history and at the same time a presence on the African continent. The presence of France is observed from the 17th century and it gets even stronger from the 19th to the 20th, where the decolonization of African areas gradually begins. Despite their independence from Paris, several of the countries under their rule-maintained ties with France. Paris continued indirectly or directly to play a role in the political life of these areas and sometimes to take on the role of peacekeeping force when socio-economic conflicts broke out.
The presence and involvement of France in Africa was to come back to the surface again, this time with its direct military involvement in the Sahel zone. The Sahel zone is located in sub-Saharan central Africa and consists mainly of countries that were colonies of France. In this region and especially in Mali, Paris under the presidency of Hollande began its military operations in January 2013. Operation Serval (as it was called), was limited to targeting Islamic extremists such as Ansar Dine, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The operation targeted firstly in Northern Mali where the local forces of Tuareg joined forces with the Islamic groups. Almost a year later the military operation was upgraded to Operation Barkhane to fight terrorism in the region. The main objective of the Barkhane operation was to help the state military forces of the countries in the Sahel zone to suppress the insurgencies of non-state armed groups. Almost 4,500 French troops were deployed and joined forces with the local counter-terrorism force.
Barkhane has been operational for 10 years and met with mixed criticisms in France. Reflecting on the criticism and economic damage caused by involvement in the Sahel, in February 2022 another French president, Emmanuel Macron, referring to the Barkhane operation, announced that France would withdraw its armed forces from Mali. A similar withdrawal will be made over time in the other states of the G5 Sahel, an intergovernmental cooperation framework of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger created for the region in 2014 and supported by France. Nevertheless, France’s military support to these countries, as Macron mentioned, will be done in other forms. Paris will hold discussions with its African partners on the format of its military support of the Sahel and West Africa countries.
The operation of France in the Sahel and especially in Mali, was judged by many as a neo-colonization. The initial liberation operation stopped looking like this and is facing accusations of failing to get a grip on the security situation. Even after the announcement of the withdrawal, the tensions between France and Mali are not lacking. The Malian government even went so far as to accuse Paris of violating its airspace and handing over weapons to terrorist groups, making the rift between the once allies more apparent than ever.
The presence of French forces is becoming more and more unwelcome in Mali. Terrorist attacks continue to take place and people joining insurgent groups are increasing. In addition, France’s operation could not limit the spread of Islamic forces in the surrounding countries during the years it was in the region. It is therefore not surprising that many Malians believe that since France cannot solve the problem, it is better to leave the region. This situation combined with the destabilization of democracy and the establishment of the junta in Mali in 2020, made the situation difficult for the French forces.
The junta postponed elections for a new government until 2025. When France registered its opposition to this decision through its ambassador, he was expelled. This move seems to be the one that angered the French presidency, with President Macron declaring “We cannot remain militarily engaged alongside de facto authorities whose strategy and hidden aims we do not share”. A statement that serves his intention to withdraw from the region and at the same time shows a damage control of French foreign policy. And this is because in the past France, being a classic Western power, has not hesitated to cooperate with authoritarian regimes on the altar of security and economy.
The junta in Mali is certainly not the only one reacting to France’s presence in the region. Burkina Faso’s military junta is constantly moving away from its cooperation with France in anticipation of cooperation with other powers. As in the previous G5 member, here the French ambassador was also asked to leave the country. Since the new junta leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traore, seized power in September by overthrowing the previous junta, anti-French sentiment is growing in the country.
The inability of France to combat terrorist activities in the region combined with the collapse of democratically elected governments in the region -only two of the five G5 states do not currently have a junta- indicates the failure of French as well as European foreign policy. The member states of the European Union followed a similar policy in the region, which despite the apparent lack of success did not change for the better. The European partners did not react particularly to the French leadership and its political guidance in the region, nor did they correct the course followed.
What is characterized as a European failure today can easily be someone else’s success. The case of the Sahel is no exception. Russia appears to be the beneficiary of the whole situation, expanding its presence in Africa. Through the Russian company Wagner, which has been in contact with African states to provide mercenaries in the region, it is trying to replace the influence of France by bringing these states into the Russian circle of influence. In addition, Russia has increased sales of military equipment in the countries of the region and provides training of Sahelian soldiers.
Russia, of course, is not the only power trying to take advantage of the region. China is intensifying its presence in central Africa with economic reasons in the foreground, aimed at the exploitation of natural resources and minerals. Yet, with the leverage of investments, Chinese oil investments in Chad have made the Chadian army one of the most well-equipped in the region. Other non-Westerners such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are trying to gain a foothold in the region using Islam as a bridge between them.
Therefore, France’s departure from the Sahel zone has multiple implications both for the region and for the international geopolitical supremacy between the powers. The effects of the French failure have already begun to be seen, although most will be seen in the upcoming years. The French president has already turned his attention to damage control from the withdrawal of French forces. This should not prevent him along with other European leaders from drawing up a common policy to support the region and reintegrate it into the democratic rails.
By The European Institute for International Law and International Relations.
