France and the Sahel G5: A Complex Relationship

Beginning in 2013, France initiated a joint operation with the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger. The coalition, Sahel G5, was established in order to prevent various terrorist and Islamist groups from establishing a foothold in the region. The Sahel region has previously allowed such groups to operate with relative freedom as it has porous borders and few people. Operation Barkhane, the current operation, has focused on training local forces as well as counter-terror operations, yet this program has come at a cost; 35 French soldiers have been killed and another 60 wounded. Nonetheless, in February of this year, President Emmanuel Macron authorized the deployment of another 600 troops to the region due to an uptick in violence. In a January 2020 President Macron and the leaders of the other five nations gathered in the French city of Pau to discuss the future of the Sahel G5 and Operation Barkhane. The summit sought to ease tensions over the continued presence of the colonial power as well as the lack of progress in countering acts of terrorism.
President Macron has been forced to respond to accusations that France’s presence is just one example of neocolonialism in the region and is focused on the protection of French interests. The new deployment of French forces was met with protests in Mali that France and the United Nations have been a de facto occupying force in the country following the French-led intervention in 2012 which prevented Bamako, the capital, from falling to Tuareg rebels. The uncertainty of Operation Barkhane’s success was notable at the Pau summit where officials from the Sahel countries have decided to adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach until the next summit in June.

Not only have local populations become tired of France’s presence, but casualties have been steadily mounting for African troops. On January 9th, 89
Nigerian troops were killed by Islamist terrorists with light arms on motorbikes and other vehicles, just one incident which highlights the
increasingly unstable situation. The United Nations Office for West Africa has reported that in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger more than 4,000 people were
killed in 2019. One reason for the increasing number of casualties is because the Sahel is not, on the whole, densely populated, with occasional high concentrations in towns and cities which have been vulnerable to attacks. Islamist groups have been able to carry out these strikes before dispersing into the bush.

As both civilian and military deaths increase, the deployment of 600 French troops highlights that the Sahel G5 has yet to turn the tide of the conflict. Other foreign actors include the United States which has about 1,000 troops stationed in West Africa, and on Monday the United Kingdom announced that 250 British troops will join the foreign forces currently in the country to assist with counter-terror operations. As more non-regional states join the coalition lead by the Sahel G5 and France, the conflict risks becoming internationalized as international actors seek to achieve their own policy goals in the region.

While Western Europe and the United States have been assisting West African governments to combat Islamist extremists, the Central African Republic has turned to Russia for assistance. Russian assistance, however, has on the whole been covert and relied on mercenary activity instead of the army. The increased presence of Western nations, Russia, and China highlight that these spheres of influence are converging on Africa. As these states seek to exert their influence over the region it may not resemble the colonialism of the 19th Century, but one must ask if the intentions are purely security oriented, or if it could
even be interpreted as a form of indirect ‘neocolonialism’.  

Most significantly, France and President Macron face a difficult foreign policy decision as the country must balance its military commitments against the calls for withdrawal from local populations.  Ultimately, it underscores the complex nature of France’s relationship with its former colonies in West
Africa as this is not the first instance of these nations becoming disgruntled with France’s continued presence in the region. In order for Operation Barkhane
to be successful, it seems imperative that the injection of troops produces tangible results before the next summit between the Sahel G5 and France in
June.

Banner image courtesy of MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko via Flickr,  ©2019, some rights reserved.