Thani Mohamed-Soilihi
By John Egie with agency report
Amid growing insecurity in the Sahel region, France has officially ended its military engagement in West Africa.
France’s withdrawal followed significant anti-French sentiment and military coups in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
French government is now seeking alternative, non-military approaches for maintaining relations in former colonies.
France’s Minister Delegate for Francophone Affairs and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi disclosed this in South Africa while attending G20 development discussions.
Thani said, ” I’m sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us”, while responding to the question asked by Reuters about the implications of France’s military exit from the Sahel amid growing insecurity.
” That is a shame”, he added, “because everyone can see the difference now and then”.
France had previously fought jihadist insurgents, intervened in political crises, and in some cases, supported or reversed coups.
Between 2022 and 2024, France steadily dismantled it’s long-standing military footprint in West Africa withdrawing it’s troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger following military coups and rising anti-French sentiment.
In November 2024, Chad, one of France’s last key partners in the region, ended it’s security cooperation agreement with Paris.
The Sahel area stretches from Senegal to Sudan. It is one of the most unstable region in Africa with jihadist violence spreading towards Southern Africa and destabilising some West Africa nations.
Credit: Business Insider
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