By John Ikani
French President Emmanuel Macron says France will no longer interfere in African affairs.
Speaking at an Environment Summit in Gabon on Thursday, Macron who is on a four-nation tour of central Africa, made it clear that “France would no longer support authoritarian leaders in Africa to protect its interests, and that the era of “Françafrique” was over.”
The era of Françafrique, which saw France propping up dictators in exchange for access to resources and military bases, was criticised by Pan-Africanists, who deemed it a continuation of colonialism.
Macron’s visit to Gabon, however, drew criticism from opposition groups and civil society who accused him of offering tacit support for President Ali Bongo, whose family dynasty has ruled Gabon for five decades.
The French President’s comments followed his announcement on Monday, of a “noticeable reduction” in France’s troop presence in Africa in the coming months, with a greater focus on training and equipping allied countries’ forces.
Troops have already been withdrawn from former colonies Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic in the past year.
In his remarks, Macron emphasised that the planned military reorganisation was “neither a withdrawal nor disengagement” but an adaptation to the needs of partners.
The French President also stressed that fields of cooperation included; fighting maritime piracy, illegal gold mining, and environmental crimes linked to regional drug trafficking.
More than 3,000 French soldiers are deployed in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Djibouti, according to official figures. Another 3,000 troops are in the Sahel region of West Africa, including in Niger and Chad.
