
On November 28, immediately following French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s diplomatic visit to Chad, the Chadian government made a surprise announcement to terminate the defense cooperation agreement with France.
That same day, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye told French media that “there will soon be no more French soldiers” stationed in Senegal.
“Senegal is an independent nation, a sovereign nation, and sovereignty does not allow for military bases on its soil,” he affirmed.
France’s influence in Africa, which has increasingly come under scrutiny since the end of colonialism—a phenomenon often referred to as Françafrique—is being challenged. Recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have brought to power military regimes that harbor significant skepticism toward French intentions.
However, instead of crafting a coherent policy response, France is mired in domestic political turmoil. President Emmanuel Macron recently witnessed the ousting of his appointed prime minister, Michel Barnier, who was removed after losing a vote of no confidence amid budgetary disputes. Francois Bayrou, a 73-year-old centrist, has stepped in as Barnier’s successor.
Experts have pointed out that a fragmented French parliament complicates the ability to formulate effective policy towards Africa, particularly during a time when established assumptions are being scrutinized, as highlighted by African Business.
Macron’s Approach
Since taking office in 2017, President Macron has sought to reshape France’s relationship with Africa to align with contemporary realities.
In a pivotal speech at the University of Ouagadougou early in his presidency, he declared that France should not dictate African policies and stressed the need to recognize Africa as an ally. This strategy has included willingness to confront the painful legacy of colonialism, though he has refrained from making an official apology to Algeria and other regions.
“I belong to a generation of French citizens who recognize the undeniable crimes of European colonization as a part of our history,” he stated, adding, “We are not here to instruct Africa on what to do.”
Macron’s outreach has also prioritized developing economic partnerships. During the 2021 Africa-France Summit in Montpellier, he committed to significant investments aimed at fostering African entrepreneurship and innovation.
In November, Macron received a warm reception in Morocco, one of France’s closest allies in Africa. He signed agreements valued at up to €10 billion across various sectors, including energy and infrastructure, securing substantial contracts with the French rail manufacturer Alstom and energy firms Engie and TotalEnergies. Macron further offered support for Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, promising investments in the area.
Nonetheless, while Macron aims to reaffirm France’s significance to Africa, he is losing political influence at home. The French parliament is nearly evenly divided among far-right, left, and center-right factions, complicating the quest for consensus on Africa policy.
Alseny Thiam, an associate researcher at the Strategic Think Tank on Security in the Sahel and the Institute for European Perspective and Security, explains that the political discord within France complicates Macron’s efforts to bolster France’s standing.
“This tension within the French government represents a quasi-cohabitation,” Thiam remarks, describing a situation where the president and prime minister belong to different political factions.
According to Thiam, this political climate has negatively impacted France’s diplomatic relations and internal policy initiatives.
Migration Issues
This confusion is particularly evident in the area of migration.
Foreign Minister Barrot asserts that France’s connection with Africa extends beyond mere “mobility and migration concerns.”
“We are working to rebuild our relationships with African nations, encompassing economic, cultural, and civil society collaborations, even with those based in France…. While we are addressing irregular migration in partnership with our African counterparts, it is just one of several crucial issues,” he remarked.
In contrast, his conservative counterpart Bruno Retailleau, who served as interior minister under Barnier, has been heavily focused on curtailing immigration. He has pushed for measures aimed at reducing migration flows through agreements with countries of origin and transit in Africa.
Caroline Roussy, research director at the French Institute of International and Strategic Affairs, notes that the internal policy disarray has hindered the ability of Africans to enter France—a vital component in deepening political and economic ties.
“The issue of visas, managed by the Ministry of the Interior rather than Foreign Affairs, is particularly sensitive. It threatens to exacerbate already tense relations,” she observed.
“With another immigration bill likely to come to the forefront in January in France, this issue appears increasingly urgent. It is deeply stigmatizing and ripe for political exploitation within African countries,” she added.
“In Senegal, for instance, visa appointments have been outsourced to private agencies, resulting in exorbitant fees ranging from €600 to €800. This undermines trust and restricts accessibility to France for African students and professionals… The importance of cultural diplomacy in this evolving landscape remains significant. It continues to enhance connections.”
Many new African leaders often lack historical ties to Paris, which makes establishing new connections—especially at the political level—more essential than ever, according to her.
“Today’s African elites—like Mali’s Assimi Goïta or Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré—did not study in France or cultivate relationships with French counterparts. We are entering a new phase where France’s historical influence is being challenged, creating a vacuum that other powers may exploit,” she elaborated.
Colonial Contradictions
Migration is not the only area where the administration has struggled to align its messaging. Macron’s attempts to express regret for France’s colonial history in Africa encountered setbacks when Retailleau offered a more positive portrayal of the empire on national radio just prior to assuming office.
“Colonization was, without a doubt, a dark period, but it was also a beautiful time, filled with helping hands,” he remarked.
Retailleau had previously criticized Macron’s strategies for Africa before joining the government, attributing the president’s failure to address the rise of “anti-French sentiment” in the region, citing Morocco’s refusal of French aid during the 2023 earthquakes and a series of military coups in the Ecowas region as examples.
The appointment of centrist Bayrou may lead to greater coherence in the African policy-making process.
However, with Barrot and Retailleau remaining as foreign and interior ministers respectively, achieving that coherence is far from guaranteed.