The withdrawal of French forces from Niger marks a major turning point in France’s military strategy in Africa. Paris now favors partnerships in which French soldiers are no longer on the front line, but rather play a training and support role.
This change of direction is part of the reflection initiated for several years by France on its military intervention in Africa. Following the intervention in Mali in 2013, the question of the effectiveness and sustainability of the French military presence arose. France then began a period of introspection to assess the role it could play in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.
The new French military doctrine is based on a lighter approach, focused on training and supporting local forces. This involves establishing partnerships with African countries to strengthen their capacities and enable them to take charge of the security of their territory. This therefore implies a gradual withdrawal of French forces from the field.
The departure of French soldiers from Niger is one of the first steps in this new strategy. The large military bases in the Sahel are gradually closed and French troops reduced. France now favors a more discreet presence, focused on training and advisory missions.
This change of course, however, raises questions about the impact this may have on the security of the region. Some fear that the departure of French forces will weaken the military presence of other partners, in particular the Americans who deploy more than 1,000 soldiers in Niger. Indeed, when foreign partners withdraw, this can lead to increased insecurity in the short term.
However, researcher Jérôme Pigné emphasizes that the Americans have strategic interests in the region and that they were pleasantly surprised by the intervention capacity of French forces. Their priority is therefore to preserve their strategic positioning to monitor the situation in the Sahel, but also in Libya.
The redefinition of military cooperation in Africa is therefore underway, with a desire to give more responsibilities to local forces. However, it remains to be seen how this new strategy will evolve in the face of a volatile security context. The aim is to find a balance between the necessary presence of foreign forces and the capacity of African countries to ensure their own security.