Macron’s African tour will take place amid declining Paris influence on the continent

He is currently taking part in a forum on the conservation of primary forests in the Congo Basin, then will lead a series of meetings on environmental issues. Then he will go to Angola, where he will learn how Paris can help the development of agriculture. He will also visit the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Kinshasa, as reflected in the official program, the French leader will explain to the host country the means of deepening partnerships in the fields of education, health and culture.It should be assumed that the topic of military cooperation will not be left without attention, but if it is discussed, then, most likely, behind closed doors and without much publicity.As the Parisian newspaper Le Figaro wrote these days, “France’s influence in Africa continues to decline in the face of competitors such as China, Russia, but also the United States and India, which is accompanied by an unprecedented rise in anti-French sentiment. .. which means we have to adapt.”It’s no secret that for decades Paris has relied on the direct deployment of its military contingents to a number of African countries, those that were colonies of France before gaining independence. in the middle of the last century. However, in recent years it has become apparent that this factor, which once played an important, if not decisive, role in ensuring the security of these states in the fight against extremists of various tendencies, is beginning to lose its effectiveness.
This happened in the Central African Republic, then in Mali. Not without reason, on the eve of the current tour, Emmanuel Macron declared that in Africa “France becomes the ideal scapegoat”, referring to the “Malian trap”, where the French soldiers assumed “an exorbitant responsibility” and then were criticized. by the Malian authorities. In the end, this resulted in the withdrawal of all French units that had remained there for the past ten years.According to the head of the Fifth Republic, “it could happen elsewhere”. However, this has already happened in Burkina Faso, whose territory, at the request of its authorities, recently left the last French soldier.Against the backdrop of such discouraging events and clearly not from a good life, Emmanuel Macron announced a new French policy in Africa. What is this? First, by reducing the direct military presence in the region. As the owner of the Elysée pointed out, the number of the French military contingent in Africa will be “significantly reduced”. True, he did not specify how much. As for the military bases of West and Central African countries, namely Senegal, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Chad, they will be transformed into academies, between training centers and units of fight. They will be managed jointly by the French and the Africans.Adapting to new realities, Paris intends to reorient African policy towards “soft power”. It is in this order of ideas that it is appropriate to examine the aforementioned agenda of the meetings of Emmanuel Maron with the leaders of four African countries. Added to this are announced plans to increase French investment in their economy, as well as to create joint start-up projects.It is clear that the French on this track will not miss their advantage. No wonder the route of the current tour passes through countries with high potential. For example, Gabon, where he started, is rich in oil, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is the world’s reservoir of cobalt.