Latest news with #anti-French
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
French military era ends in West Africa as Senegal reclaims last base
France has formally dismissed its decades-long military presence in Senegal, handing over its last remaining military facility to local authorities during a ceremony on Thursday. France has formally ended its military presence in Senegal by transferring its last base to Senegalese authorities. The base handover occurred during a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both nations. The retreat is part of France's broader reduction of military presence across West Africa. The last post, Camp Geille in Ouakam, Dakar, was handed over to Senegalese administration in a solemn ceremony attended by Senegal's Chief of General Staff, General Mbaye Cisse, and Major General Pascal Ianni, head of the French military command in Africa. This transfer came after a number of prior restitutions, including the Marechal and Saint-Exupery sites in March, the Contre-Amiral Protet installation in May, and the Rufisque military post in early July. The exit was agreed upon by a Franco-Senegalese joint committee on May 16 and is consistent with the two nations' military cooperation pact from 2012. France and Senegal began discussions in February 2025 to consider the exit, following similar withdrawals in other West African countries. According to Euronews, this event coincides with the rise of anti-French sentiment in the region and signifies the end of France's military presence in West Africa. France has been progressively diminishing its military presence in Africa, most notably retreating from the Sahel region of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger due to diplomatic issues and growing public resistance. France's military exit in West Africa in recent years France handed up its last military facility in Chad in January 2025, just as tensions between the two countries worsened. Chad went on to accuse France of undermining its democracy, particularly in light of a January 8 attack on its presidential palace by a group of 24 people, which strained bilateral relations even more. Chad's move comes barely a year after France's cessation of military cooperation with Gabon in September 2023, following the overthrow of President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The coup, led by military personnel who questioned Bongo's third term, installed General Brice Oligui Nguema as leader of the transitional government. France, which had generally supported pro-Western regimes in Africa, promptly cut military ties with Gabon's new administration. In 2022, Mali expelled France's ambassador, causing France to withdraw its troops and the Takuba force, thereby ending their military partnership. France's 4,500-strong Operation Barkhane army withdrew from Mali in August 2022, while French forces left Burkina Faso in February 2023. The 400-member Operation Sabre, which was sent in 2009 to combat armed organizations such as al-Qaeda in the region, discreetly withdrew after Burkina Faso's military-led government requested their leave in January, citing a four-week withdrawal deadline. France's military departure from Senegal reflects a larger rethinking of France's position in its former colonies, where anger of neocolonial ties, security failings, and perceived intervention in internal matters has pushed governments and citizens to want complete autonomy.
DW
20-06-2025
- Business
- DW
Niger to nationalize French share in uranium company Somair – DW – 06/20/2025
Niger's militia junta has stated a list of grievances with the French company Orano, which owns a controlling stake in one of its largest uranium mines. Niger's ruling junta militia announced plans to nationalize Somair — a unit of the French uranium company Orano, on Thursday, escalating tensions between the two nations. "Faced with the irresponsible, illegal and disloyal behavior of Orano, a company owned by the French state, a state openly hostile to Niger, Niger has decided, in all sovereignty, to nationalize Somair," the junta said in a statement read on Niger's national television. The decision comes amid a deepening rift between Paris and Niamey after a deterioration in 2023 when the military junta staged a coup to take over Niger. As a result, France had pulled back its troops from the Sahel nation. France grapples with waning influence in West Africa To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Why is Niger nationalizing a French-run venture? Orano — which is itself 90% owned by the French state — holds a 63% stake in Somair. The rest of the uranium venture is controlled by Niger's state-run Sopamin. Orano has operated uranium mines in Niger for decades but was shut out of its operations in three key mines in 2024 following a coup that saw a sharp rise in anti-French sentiment in the former French colony. Niger possesses some of the world's largest uranium deposits. The French company has been pursuing legal means to regain operational control of Somair, claiming the state's actions have been damaging the mine's finances. In May, The Financial Times reported that the company was also exploring options to sell off its stake in the venture. Edited by: Alex Berry
France 24
08-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Wagner replaced by Russia's Africa Corp in Mali: diplomatic sources
"Officially, Wagner is no longer present in Mali. But the Africa Corps is stepping up," one diplomatic source in the Sahel region said. A Telegram account affiliated with Wagner said: "Mission accomplished. PMC Wagner is going home." Mali's ruling junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, broke off ties with former colonial power France and pivoted towards Russia for political and military support. Wagner, Russia's best-known mercenary group, was disbanded and restructured after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a mysterious plane crash in August 2023 following a short-lived rebellion against Moscow. Mali has never officially admitted Wagner's presence, insisting it only worked with Russian instructors. France withdrew its 2,400 troops from Mali in 2022 after ties with the junta soured and anti-French sentiment surged among the public. "The Kremlin remains in control," the same diplomatic source added. "Most of the Wagner personnel in Mali, who are originally from Russia, will be reintegrated into Africa Corps and remain in northern regional capitals and Bamako." The Africa Corps is another paramilitary group with links to the Kremlin and seen as the successor to the Wagner group. Like Wagner, its mercenaries are active supporting several African governments. For over three years, Mali had relied on Wagner in its fight against jihadists who have killed thousands across the country. "Wagner yesterday or Africa Corps today, our point of contact remains the same, it is the central power in Russia, that is to say the Kremlin," a Malian security source said Sunday. The paramilitary group's brutal methods on the ground in Mali have been regularly denounced by human rights groups. A UN report accused Mali's army and foreign fighters of executing at least 500 people during a March 2022 anti-jihadist sweep in Moura -- a claim denied by the junta. Western governments believe the foreign fighters were Wagner mercenaries. Last April, bodies were discovered near a Malian military camp, days after the army and Wagner paramilitaries arrested dozens of civilians, most from the Fulani community. Wagner's withdrawal comes amid what the Malian army calls a "resurgence""of jihadist attacks, including two assaults that killed dozens of soldiers and forced troops to abandon a key central base. A European diplomatic source in the Sahel believes Africa Corps will probably do "much more training of Malian soldiers than Wagner did". "Although Wagner claims that its operations and support strengthened the Malian army, Africa Corps will need to continue training and support, especially after the recent wave of attacks against the FAMA (Malian Armed Forces)," said Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at the Washington think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Morocco World
05-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Assets of Tebboune's Sons in France Face Potential Asset-Freezing Measures
Rabat – Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune could face a new scandal amid reports on France's potential freezing of the assets of about 20 Algerian dignitaries. Mohamed Sifaoui, a French-Algerian investigative journalist, has revealed that two of Tebboune's sons, Mohamed and Khaleld, hold assets in France. Sifaoui made his remarks during an interview with Algerian journalist Abdou Semmar. During the interview published this week, the journalist claimed that while Tebboune may have no assets in France, his sons do. These assets could be seized and frozen by French authorities, which would see bilateral tensions escalate even further since the two countries started exchanging hostile diplomatic decisions in the aftermath of France's endorsement of Morocco's position on the Western Sahara dispute. Sifaoui made several other revelations, including pointing out the abuse of power by the Algerian regime. He said that Mohamed Tebboune was entrusted by his father with a government advisory role despite his lack of experience. Mohamed Tebboune also has connections with Turkish businessmen, he suggested, adding that this would eventually land him in jail when his father's mandate ends. 'They own commercial properties, stock assets, etc. What we call financial assets in other words, wealth… both of them have assets in France,' the Algerian journalist said, noting that this is 'confirmed information.' The journalist slammed the Algerian president for criticizing France while his sons have financial holdings there, noting that he not only relies on information from government reports but also verifies and fact-checks information himself. 'That's why I haven't published it yet,' he said. 'I have the names and will probably publish them by the end of the week. But among those are the two sons of Abdelmadjid Tebboune.' Sifaoui and his interviewer then both launched into a debate about the hypocrisy of the Algerian ruling class, slamming Algeria's establishment for claiming to adopt an anti-French policy while their children and families hold active assets in France. This is not the only bombshell revelation Sifaoui made about the Algerian regime's involvement in similar scandals. Beyond the regime's interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, a new comprehensive investigation has shed light on clandestine operations allegedly orchestrated by the Algerian regime on French soil. Last month, French outlet Le Journal du Dimanche reported that, under President Tebboune, the Algerian government has been actively involved in a campaign to suppress opposition voices abroad. A senior French security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the news outlet, said: 'We possess reliable intelligence confirming that Algerian services did not act independently.' This includes attempts to abduct or intimidate prominent dissidents residing in France, such as YouTube r Amir DZ and journalist Abdou Semmar. Algeria and France have experienced political tensions for months. According to L'Express, France is now considering freezing the assets of several dignitaries of the Algerian regime. There have also been exchanges of hostile measures from both countries, including travel restrictions against officials from both sides. In recent years, both countries have taken measures to expel officials or made other similar measures. In May, diplomatic sources told AFP that Algeria was planning to expel more French officials. In response, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that ties between France and Algeria were 'completely frozen.' Tags: algeria and francerelations between Algeria and France
France 24
03-06-2025
- General
- France 24
French policeman to go on trial over 2023 killing of teen that sparked riots
The trial of the officer, who has been charged with the murder of Nahel M., 17, could take place in the second or third quarter of 2026, the court and prosecutor in the Paris suburb of Nanterre where the killing took place said in a joint statement. The officer, identified as Florian M., was released from custody in November 2023 after five months in detention. Mobile footage of him shooting Nahel inside a car during a traffic control on a busy street went viral. The anger sparked protests that degenerated into rioting and led to scenes of devastation nationwide. The police initially maintained that Nahel had driven his car at the officer but this was contradicted by the video, which showed two officers standing outside a stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at its driver. "This order for a trial is both disappointing and not surprising," said Laurent-Franck Lienard, the officer's lawyer. "The investigating judge would have had to be courageous to take a different position than that of the prosecution" which pushed for the trial, the lawyer told AFP, adding that he would lodge an appeal against the order. "We maintain that the shooting was legitimate," he said. Frank Berton, the lawyer for Nahel's mother, expressed his "satisfaction" over the move. "We are just seeing the law being applied... Now all that remains is to convince the court," he said. The move to try the officer over the death of Nahel, who was of north African origin, comes against the background of new tensions in France over racism and security. A man who had posted racist videos shot dead his Tunisian neighbour and badly wounded a Turkish man in the south of France at the weekend, and a Malian man was stabbed to death in a mosque in April. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who is taking an increasingly hard line on immigration issues, has faced accusations of not taking a strong enough stance against such crimes and even fuelling a racist climate. But he said Monday that "every racist act is an anti-French act".
