The issue of reducing the French military presence in Africa has been on Paris’ the agenda for many years. When taking up their duties, all of the recent French presidents – without exception – gave a kind of oath that they would address this issue and build relations with African partners on an equal and fair basis.

Upon assuming the presidency in 2008, Nicolas Sarkozy declared that France would no longer be the ‘gendarme of Africa’ and would reduce its military presence there.

After his election, Francois Hollande also promised to end the discredited FranceAfrique policy, according to which France unofficially received the exclusive right to develop African mineral resources and markets for its products. In turn, it acted as a guarantor of the preservation of authoritarian leaders of a pro-French orientation in power.

During his election campaign, E. Macron sharply criticised France’s Africa policy, making statements about the need to bring it in line with new democratic standards. However, as was the case of his predecessors, all of this turned out to be complete demagoguery and Paris’ policy in Africa became even more militaristic and paternalistic than ever before.

France’s empty promises

On the eve of his visit to Gabon, the DRC, Angola and the Republic of the Congo, in February 2023, speaking at the Elysee Palace, he proclaimed the beginning of a «new era» in relations with African countries. In particular, he announced a new approach to the development of security ties and plans to intensify economic cooperation. Stating once again that the former French colonies are no longer the «backyard» of Paris, he promised to refuse to interfere in their internal affairs and develop relations with them based on mutual interests and the fulfilment of commitments.

This statement of E. Macron on the transition to a new strategy in relations with Africa evoked a mixed reaction in the analytical circles of African and other countries. Some experts considered it not to be a revision of policy, but only an intention to adapt to the new geopolitical realities on the continent and, according to Togolese expert Raissa Girondin, try to «return the hearts of Africans to the bosom of French politics, in which they have long-lost faith». Others said they did not see anything new from what he declared back in 2017, speaking in Burkina Faso at the University of Ouagadougou.

The Turkish Anadolu Agency news agency notes that the majority of representatives of the African expert community hold the opinion that until Paris in practice gets rid of its superiority complex towards Africa and........

© New Eastern Outlook