Latest news with #ThaniMohamed-Soilihi
Business Insider
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
From endless interference to silent retreat, how France has shifted its tone about West Africa
The difference between January and July, for France, concerning its military ties in the West African region was the few French military bases that still existed. However, in mid-July, France handed over its last remaining military facility in Senegal, the Camp Geille in Ouakam, Dakar, to local authorities, the last post France held in the Sahel region. Barely a month later, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, France's Minister Delegate for Francophone Affairs and International Partnerships, noted that the security challenges in West Africa no longer concern France. "I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us,' he said to a reporter from Reuters when asked about the ramifications of France's military withdrawal from the Sahel He made this point during a phone briefing with journalists in South Africa while attending G20 development discussions. This is a far cry from when French President Emmanuel Macron denied that Paris had been thrown out of the Sahel, claiming that the country had instead opted to restructure its approach. "No, France is not on the back foot in Africa, it is just lucid and reorganizing itself," Macron had said, alongside a few inflammatory comments. France's losing grip in West Africa: from influence to irrelevance For decades, France has maintained a strong security presence in West Africa, deploying soldiers, supporting counterterrorism operations, and consolidating its historic influence in its former colonies. However, in 2025, France has now been officially kicked out of the region completely. The change has been both symbolic and geopolitical, revealing a divide in how France and its former colonies see security, sovereignty, and postcolonial ties. One by one, countries that once relied on France for military support, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, Gabon, and most recently, Senegal, have asked French troops to leave for good. For these nations, France's involvement no longer symbolized partnership but an outdated, paternalistic presence that failed to solve their worsening insecurity. France's defensive tone turned resigned In January, President Emmanuel Macron, once seen as the polished diplomat intent on "resetting" France's relationship with Africa, struck a defensive tone. As anti-French sentiment swelled across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Macron remarked, "I think that they forgot to thank us, but that's ok, it will come in time." He went on to say, 'None of them would have a sovereign state if the French army had not deployed in this region.' While Macron insisted France was not 'on the back foot in Africa,' but instead 'lucid and reorganising itself,' his words did little to reverse a wave of expulsions. In a sharp contrast, as mentioned above, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi recently noted that security issues in the Sahel no longer concern France. He also stated France is "looking for other ways to maintain ties that are not necessarily military," suggesting a shift in approach. As for his take on the effects of France's expulsion from the Sahel region, he stated, "That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between now and then." West Africa at war, and a pivot for new partnerships The Sahel, a fragile region between the Sahara Desert and tropical savannas, has become a hotspot for ideological struggle and geopolitical ambition. According to The Washington Post, religious radicals, military personnel, and Russian mercenaries are increasingly targeting this weak region. With national forces unprepared to deal with insurgencies and popular faith in institutions weakening, military coups have grown widespread, providing rapid, if contentious, answers to turmoil. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are at the center of this turmoil, boasting some of the world's highest terrorism indices in 2024 and 2025. These three countries have also witnessed military coups in recent years and have rejected France's security umbrella. In its stead, they've turned to Russia, notably the notorious Wagner Group, which has been largely rebranded as the Africa Corps. Wagner forces are involved in at least six African nations, supporting leaders, training local soldiers, and conducting propaganda efforts to turn public opinion against the West. In exchange, Wagner and its affiliates are said to have acquired lucrative mining and security contracts, combining geopolitics and profit. A reckoning for France, and a new era in West Africa This new age has challenged France's longstanding leadership in Africa while also eliciting strong reactions from African leaders. Following Macron's words, Burkina Faso's president replied sharply: "(Macron) has degraded all Africans. This is how this dude perceives Africa and Africans. He does not see us as human beings." Such sentiments reflect widespread unhappiness across the continent. For many African leaders, the French military presence made little difference in their nations' serious security concerns. The military departure is viewed as a necessary break from a cycle of reliance and humiliation, rather than a risk. Yet, France is not completely retreating. Analysts suggest that while visible military bases may vanish, French interests in resource-rich nations will persist. This was also highlighted by Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, who, as mentioned earlier, noted that the French government is "looking for other ways to maintain ties that are not necessarily military.' Burkina Faso's president is however, is not completely sold. He still believes that France will always look for a way to be militarily involved in African affairs, as reported by Anadolu Agency back in January. 'They will not leave certain countries... They will set up security companies to secure their companies, which are in these countries,' the president of Burkina Faso warned. 'But the soldiers will be there. You will no longer see them in uniform or gathered in bases.'
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
West Africa's security woes no longer France's concern, says minister
The insecurity plaguing West Africa is no longer France's concern, its state minister for ties with Francophone countries and international partnerships said on Friday, a week after Paris handed over control of its last major military base in the region. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi was speaking to journalists in a phone briefing in South Africa, where he was attending the Group of 20 (G20) top economies' week of discussions on global development. "I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us," Mohamed-Soilihi said, in answer to a Reuters question about the risk of insecurity posed by France's military absence. "That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between [now and then]," he added. "But we are looking for other ways to maintain ties [that are] not necessarily military." In the past three years, France has gradually dismantled its once-substantial military presence in its African ex-colonies, where for decades it had beaten back jihadist militants, arrested armed criminals, rescued several presidents from armed rebellions — and, in earlier times, backed coups itself.
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
West Africa's Security Woes No Longer France's Concern, Minister Says
The insecurity plaguing West Africa is no longer France's concern, its state minister for ties with Francophone countries and international partnerships said on Friday, a week after Paris handed over control of its last major military base in the region. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi was speaking to journalists in a phone briefing in South Africa, where he was attending the Group of 20 top economies' week of discussions on global development. 'I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us,' Mohamed-Soilihi said, in answer to a Reuters question about the risk of insecurity posed by France's military absence. 'That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between (now and then),' he added. 'But we are looking for other ways to maintain ties (that are) not necessarily military.' In the past three years, France has gradually dismantled its once-substantial military presence in its African ex-colonies, where for decades it had beaten back jihadist militants, arrested armed criminals, rescued several presidents from armed rebellions – and, in earlier times, backed coups itself. Since 2022, France has pulled its soldiers out of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, after military coups brought in leaders hostile to the French presence. Chad – a linchpin of the West's war against jihadists in the Sahel – abruptly ended its security cooperation pact with its former colonial master in November. More than a decade of insurgencies in the Sahel have displaced millions and engendered economic collapse, with violence pushing further south towards West Africa's coast. The last two months have seen a surge in jihadist attacks, making them one of the deadliest periods of the Sahel's history. 'We continue to deal with countries that so wish,' Mohamed-Soilihi said. 'But … France won't be able to respond to the security problems of countries with which there is no longer a relationship.'
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
France says West Africa's security no longer its concern as Military cooperation ends
France's era of military engagement in West Africa is officially over, along with its direct involvement in the region's security challenges, a Reuters report confirms. France officially ended its military engagement in West Africa amid growing insecurity in the Sahel region. France's withdrawal followed significant anti-French sentiment and military coups in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The French government seeks alternative, non-military approaches for maintaining relations in former colonies. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, France's Minister Delegate for Francophone Affairs and International Partnerships, made this point during a phone briefing with journalists in South Africa while attending G20 development discussions. When asked by Reuters about the implications of France's military exit from the Sahel amid growing insecurity, Mohamed-Soilihi stated, "I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us." He then added, " That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between now and then." However, he also mentioned that the French government is "looking for other ways to maintain ties that are not necessarily military," suggesting a shift in approach. France ends African military operations His comments come just a week after France officially handed over its last major military base in the Sahel, marking a significant turning point in its decades-long military presence in former colonies. In these territories, France had previously fought jihadist insurgents, intervened in political crises, and in some cases, supported or reversed coups. Between 2022 and 2024, France steadily dismantled its long-standing military footprint in West Africa, withdrawing its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups and rising anti-French sentiment. In November 2024, Chad, one of France's last key partners in the region, ended its security cooperation agreement with Paris. The Sahel area, stretching from Senegal to Sudan, remains one of the most unstable in Africa, with jihadist violence spreading towards Southern Africa and destabilizing some West African nations. Over a decade of insurgency has displaced millions and driven a deepening humanitarian crisis, while recent months have seen some of the deadliest attacks on record. France's latest posture signals a shift toward diplomatic and non-military forms of engagement in Africa, an approach major powers like the US and China have also adopted in their recent relations with African nations. Mohamed-Soilihi emphasized that France will continue to engage with countries that seek cooperation, but without a military role.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
West Africa's security woes no longer France's concern, minister says
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -The insecurity plaguing West Africa is no longer France's concern, its state minister for ties with Francophone countries and international partnerships said on Friday, a week after Paris handed over control of its last major military base in the region. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi was speaking to journalists in a phone briefing in South Africa, where he was attending the Group of 20 top economies' week of discussions on global development. "I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us," Mohamed-Soilihi said, in answer to a Reuters question about the risk of insecurity posed by France's military absence. "That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between (now and then)," he added. "But we are looking for other ways to maintain ties (that are) not necessarily military." In the past three years, France has gradually dismantled its once-substantial military presence in its African ex-colonies, where for decades it had beaten back jihadist militants, arrested armed criminals, rescued several presidents from armed rebellions - and, in earlier times, backed coups itself. Since 2022, France has pulled its soldiers out of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, after military coups brought in leaders hostile to the French presence. Chad - a linchpin of the West's war against jihadists in the Sahel - abruptly ended its security cooperation pact with its former colonial master in November. More than a decade of insurgencies in the Sahel have displaced millions and engendered economic collapse, with violence pushing further south towards West Africa's coast. The last two months have seen a surge in jihadist attacks, making them one of the deadliest periods of the Sahel's history. "We continue to deal with countries that so wish," Mohamed-Soilihi said. "But ... France won't be able to respond to the security problems of countries with which there is no longer a relationship." (Reporting by Tim Cocks; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
