President Emmanuel Macron has adopted an unusually confrontational tone, characterizing the state of affairs between France and the Sahel’s military regimes as a “settling of scores.” His assertion that Paris has been “repaid with ingratitude” marks, in his most direct language to date, the conclusive end of a diplomatic era spanning over a decade. This pointed declaration unequivocally targets the ruling juntas in Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey – three capitals that have progressively terminated bilateral military cooperation with France.
Presidential remarks solidify the Sahelian rupture
The Élysée Palace’s current rhetoric starkly contrasts with the customary diplomatic caution typically observed when addressing African partners. By emphasizing France’s substantial human and financial sacrifices, President Macron aims to place the onus for this diplomatic estrangement squarely on the transitional authorities that emerged from the coups d’état in 2020, 2022, and 2023. This discourse also resonates with a domestic audience in France, where the Sahelian situation is widely perceived as a significant strategic setback following the compelled withdrawal of Operation Barkhane in 2022.
Nevertheless, the President’s assertive phrasing threatens to further entrench an already precarious dynamic. In both Bamako and Niamey, the official narrative has been built upon condemning what is portrayed as an intrusive, even neo-colonial, French presence. Each pronouncement from the Élysée expressing grievances invariably fuels the sovereignist rhetoric championed by leaders such as Colonels Assimi Goïta, Ibrahim Traoré, and Abdourahamane Tiani. European diplomatic missions, closely monitoring these developments, harbor concerns that such direct language could also complicate their remaining channels of communication with Sahelian capitals.
The Alliance of Sahel States and France’s strategic withdrawal
Following the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023, which evolved into a confederation by July 2024, the three military regimes have dramatically accelerated their diplomatic reorientation. This includes their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a growing alignment with Moscow through Africa Corps (succeeding Wagner), and increased engagement with Ankara and Tehran. The geopolitical repositioning of Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey is proceeding at a rapid pace. Consequently, France, which previously held significant economic influence through institutions like the CFA franc and companies such as Orange, TotalEnergies, and Eramet, is witnessing its leverage diminish.
In practical terms, the anticipated departure of the final French troops from Chad and Senegal by late 2024 will complete Paris’s military disengagement from the Sahelo-Saharan region. France’s operational presence in West Africa, which numbered over 5,000 personnel in 2020, is now scaled back to a minimal footprint, primarily focused on training and intelligence. This significant reduction fundamentally alters the framework of French influence, which for decades relied heavily on military force projection.
A double-edged rhetoric for Paris
By publicly citing the “ingratitude” of African partners, President Macron risks reinforcing a post-colonial interpretation that has already gained significant traction among Sahelian public opinion, particularly within urban and youth demographics. Regardless of intent, the term evokes a paternalistic narrative that the French executive had actively sought to dismantle since the Ouagadougou speech in November 2017. The stark contrast between initial pledges to renew the Franco-African relationship and the current declaration of rupture is now undeniable.
Furthermore, the President’s remarks come as Paris endeavors to recalibrate its African partnerships, focusing on what it considers more stable nations, ranging from Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire to Bénin and Mauritania. This strategy of bypassing the Sahel necessitates a measured public discourse, lest it inadvertently taint the broader spectrum of diplomatic ties. Several African diplomats, even from allied nations, have privately voiced discomfort with what they perceive as an overly personal register in French official statements.
In Dakar, Abidjan, and Nouakchott, these developments are being closely observed, as they underscore France’s challenge in concluding a chapter cleanly without reopening old wounds. The critical question remains: how can Paris re-establish its credibility as an attentive partner on the continent while simultaneously addressing a Sahelian legacy it believes has been unfairly judged? President Macron’s statements signify yet another phase in the symbolic unwinding of France’s engagement in the Sahel.
