The subject of consideration is the African policy of France during the presidency of Emmanuel Macron (2017-2022). The proclaimed slogans, the official rhetoric of the tenth president of the Fifth Republic, the political practices of the Elysee Palace during this period are reviewed in the context of the geopolitical changes taking place in West Africa. The purpose of the study is to find out the factors that in one way or another have influenced the African policy of Paris in recent years, to determine the obvious motives and latent aspirations of French diplomacy on the African continent. The article deals with very recent events that took place in Tropical Africa, and are therefore relatively little studied both in Russian African studies and in French political science and anthropology. The author comes to the conclusion that the Fifth Republic is rapidly losing its economic, political and military-strategic positions in African countries, which were quite recently a zone of its undeniable influence. He connects this process with the emergence here of new actors in international relations, which allowed Africans to diversify their foreign economic and political orientations.
Keywords:
France, Tropical Africa, Russia, China, geopolitical situation, political crisis, Sahel countries, Operation Barkhane, Emmanuel Macron, African politics, terrorism, Islamists
DOI:
10.31132/2412-5717-2022-58-1-31-48
References:
1. A very old but extremely relevant story. http://kotbayun1965.livejournal.com/77562.html (аccessed 08.20.2021)
2. Alaoui M.C. Sommet UA-UE: le roi Mohammed VI reçoit Emmanuel Macron et le president de l’Angola. http://fr.le360.ma/politique/sommet-ua-ue-le-roi-mohammed-vi-recoit-emmanuel-macron-et-le-president-de-langola-145169 (accessed 23.11.2021)
3. Au Ghana Macron s’adressé à nouveau à la jeunesse africaine. https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/au-ghana-macron-sadresse-a-nouveau-a-la-jeunesse-africaine-1258517 (accessed 23.11.2021)
4. Bobin F., Tilouine J. Coronavirus: les experts du Quai d’Orsay redoutent le «coup de trop» qui «déstabilise» l’Afrique. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2020/04/03/coronavirus-les-experts-du-quai-d-orsay-redoutent-le-coup-de-trop-qui-destabilise-l-afrique_6035470_3212.html (accessed 04.03.2020)
5. Boni М. Macron accusé d’avoir commis une bourde diplomatique au Burkina Faso. Le Figaro. 2017. 29 novembre.
6. Bovdunov A. «V neokolonialnom stile»: gotova li Frantciia k perezagruzke otnoshenii s byvshimi vladeniiami v Afrike? (“In neo-colonial style”: is France ready to reset relations with former possessions in Africa?). https://russian.rt.com/world/article/455657-makron-afrika–vizit-vystuplenie-es (accessed 03.10.2021)
7. Burkina Faso. Une grenade pour l’arrivée de Macron à Ouagadougou. Le journal numérique. 2017. 28 novembre.
8. Bystrov A.A. O prichinakh neudachi operatcii «Barkhan» v zone Sakhelia. (About the reasons for the failure of the operation “Barkhan” in the Sahel zone). http://www.iimes.ru/?p=35817 (accessed 12.23.2021)
9. Carraud S., Rose M. France’s armed forces chief resigns after clash with Macron over budget cuts. https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN1A40Z (accessed 23.05.2020)
10. Cooper H., Gibbons-Neff Th., Savage Ch., Schmitt E. Pentagon Eyes Africa Drawdown as First Step in Global Troop Shift. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/24/world/africa/esper-troops-africa-china.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage (accessed 23.11.2021)
11. Côte d’Ivoire. Arrivée à Abidjan du Président Emmanuel Macron pour le sommet UA-UE. http://aip.ci/cote-divoire-arrivee-a-abidjan-du-president-emmanuel-macron-pour-le-sommet-ua-ue/ (accessed 23.11.2021)
12. Coutausse J.-C. Fin de l’opération «Barkhane», dons de vaccins, haine en ligne: les points essentiels de la conférence de presse d’Emmanuel Macron. Le Monde. 2021. 10 juin.
13. Crise au Togo: le dernier message d’Emmanuel Macron à Faure Gnassingbé. https://togotribune. com/news/crise-au-togo-le-dernier-message-demmanuel-macron-a-faure-gnassingbe/ (accessed 23.11.2021)
14. Demir Y. Operation Barkhane: France’s Afghanistan. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/search/?s=anti-France%20sentiments%20in%20Africa&tag=1 (accessed 23.11.2021)
15. Dider Awadi: «Blaise Compaoré doit être arrêté et jugé». http://www.seneweb.com/news/People/ dider-awadi-laquo-blaise-compaore-doit-_n_139329.html (accessed 26.11.2021)
16. Duhem V. Sommet UA-UE: demandez le programme! http://www.jeuneafrique.com/497581/ politique/sommet-ua-ue-demandez-le-programme/ (accessed 23.03.2021)
17. EU commits 50 mln euros to combat militants in West Africa. https://af.reuters.com/ article/nigeriaNews/idAFL8N1J24LK (accessed 20.12.2021)
18. Filippov V.R. Politicheskii krizis v Mali 2020-2021 godov v Mali (Political crisis in Mali 2020-2021). Journal of the Institute for African studies. 2021. No. 3. S. 42-53. DOI:10.31132/2412-5717-2021-56-3-42-55
19. France and Africa – new relationships or old habits? https://www.rfi.fr/ru/frantsiya/20100531-frantsiya-i-afrika-novye-otnosheniya-ili-starye-privychki (accessed 03.21.2020)
20. France will complete the military operation against terrorists in Africa. https://lenta.ru/news/2021/06/11/sahel_over/ (accessed 20.10.2021)
21. Hollande: Africa is the future of the world economy. http://www.vz.ru/news/2012/10/13/ 602344.html (accessed 11.23.2021)
22. Hollande: France facilitated the departure of Blaise Compaore from Burkina Faso to Côte d’Ivoire. http://itar-tass.com/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1551081 (accessed 06/05/2021)
23. Kalegina M. Avtobus delegatcii Makrona zakidali kamniami v stolitce Burkina-Faso (The bus of the Macron delegation was pelted with stones in the capital of Burkina Faso). https://life.ru/1064918 (accessed 02.11.2021)
24. Keenan J. France’s Operation Barkhane and Saharan ghosts. http://www.middleeasteye.net/ columns/france-s-operation-barkhan-and-sahara-s-ghosts-225752252 (accessed 03.10.2021)
25. Lagneau L. Une page se tourne: les opérations Serval et Épervier sont désormais terminées. http://www.opex360.com/2014/08/01/page-se-tourne-les-operations-serval-epervier-sont-desormais-terminees/ (accessed 23.11.2021)
26. Larcher L. Au Mali, la France embourbée et l’ONU impuissante. https://www.la-croix.com/ Monde/Afrique/Au-Mali-France-embourbee-lONU-impuissante-2019-11-26-1201062880 (accessed 23.11.2021)
27. Lattier A. Ethiopie: Emmanuel Macron et Abiy Ahmed affichent leur entente parfaite. http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20190312-ethiopie-emmanuel-macron-abiy-ahmed-affichent-entente-parfaite (accessed 23.11.2021)
28. Lavrov zaiavil ob obrashchenii vlastei Mali k rossiiskoi ChVK (Lavrov announced the appeal of the Malian authorities to the Russian PMC). https://www.rbc.ru/politics/25/09/2021/614f50f 79a7947241e0f7fd7 (accessed 01/23/2022)
29. Les Togolais doivent pouvoir «s’exprimer librement», estime le président français. http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/11/30/emmanuel-macron-souhaite-que-les-togolais-puissent-s-exprimer-librement_5222740_3212.html#iLD3WoQh2VsscfER.99 (accessed 30.11.2021)
30. Macron au Ghana: le discours mémorable du président ghanéen sur l’autonomie africaine viral sur les réseaux sociaux. http://fr.africanews.com/2017/12/06/macron-au-ghana-le-discours-memorable-du-president-ghaneen-sur-l-autonomie/ (accessed 20.10.2021)
31. Macron calls for countries’ support in fighting extremism. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/ article-4521436/Macrons-non-Europe-trip-focuses-fighting-extremism.htm (accessed 20.10.2021)
32. Macron condemned anti-French criticism in the Sahel region https://regnum.ru/news/polit/ 2828888.html (accessed 11.23.2021)
33. Macron pledges closer French economic ties on first-ever visit to Kenya. https://www.france24. com/en/20190313-france-kenya-macron-visit-economy-trade-kenyatta (accessed 09.10.2021)
34. Macron publicly ‘humiliates’ Burkina Faso president as French leader’s Africa trip goes wrong. https://on.rt.com/8tb9 (accessed 25.11.2021)
35. Macron warned of possible negative consequences of China’s expansion of influence in Africa. https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/6210797 (accessed 11.23.2021)
36. Mai G. “Profound transformation” of the French military presence in the Sahel. https://anna-news.info/glubokaya-transformatsiya-frantsuzskogo-voennogo-prisutstviya-v-sahele/?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop&nw=1623479264000 (accessed 11.23.2021)
37. Mali crisis deepens as president, PM detained by mutinous troops. https://www.aljazeera.com/ news/2020/8/18/mali-crisis-deepens-as-president-pm-detained-by-mutinous-troops (accessed 18.08. 2020)
38. Mali refused to discuss with Russia reports about the deployment of Wagner PMCs in the country. https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5005986 (accessed 01.02.2022)
39. Mali: leader of 2020 coup takes power after president’s arrest. https://www.theguardian. com/world/2021/may/24/mali-president-prime-minister-and-defence-minister-arrested-sources-say (accessed 23.11.2021)
40. Mali’s top court declares coup leader Goita as interim president. https://www.reuters.com/ world/africa/malis-top-court-declares-coup-leader-goita-interim-president-2021-05-28/ (accessed 28.05.2021)
41. Moiseev D. Rossiia sposobna usilit svoi pozitcii posle perevorota v Mali. (Russia is able to strengthen its position after the coup in Mali). https://www.ng.ru/world/2021-05-30/5_8160_mali.html (accessed 11.23.2021)
42. Melnikov V. Makron obiavil ob otpravke dopolnitelnykh voennykh sil v Afriku (Macron announced the dispatch of additional military forces to Africa). https://ria.ru/20200114/ 1563383833.html (accessed 11.20.2021)
43. Opération Barkhane. https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/operations/sahel/dossier-de-presentation-de-l-operation-barkhane/operation-barkhane (accessed 23.11.2021)
44. Pesnot P. Les Dessous de la Francafrique. Paris, Nouveau Monde. 2011. – 400 р.
45. Philippov V.R. Uranium factor in France’s foreign policy towards Africa. SENTENTIA. European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 2015. № 2. С. 171-185.
46. Reuters: Frantciia i Efiopiia podpisali pervoe soglashenie o voennom sotrudnichestve (France, Ethiopia sign the first agreement on military cooperation). TASS https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnay a-panorama/6210880 (accessed 23.11.2021)
47. Sahel-Armées: Barkhane succède à Serval. https://www.bbc.com/afrique/region/2014/07/ 140713_sahel-france.shtml (accessed 02.11.2021)
48. Semo M. Emmanuel Macron en visite à Djibouti, où l’influence de la France recule face à la Chine. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/03/12/emmanuel-macron-en-visite-a-djibouti-ou-l-influence-de-la-france-recule-face-a-la-chine_5434898_3212.html (accessed 03.11.2019)
49. Semo M. Pour Macron, la France est un «possible contrepoids» à la Chine en Afrique de l’Est. https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2019/03/12/emmanuel-macron-veut-une-place-en-afrique-de-l-est-a-cote-des-chinois_5434673_823448.html (accessed 03.11.2019)
50. Somalia’s al-Shabab militants in ‘deadly feud’. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22988404 (accessed 23.11.2021)
51. Sommet du G5 Sahel à Pau: Emmanuel Macron veut resserrer le front antijihadiste. https://www.france24.com/fr/20200113-un-sommet-du-g5-sahel-%C3%A0-pau-pour-resserrer-le-front-antijihadiste (accessed 29.11.2021)
52. Sommet UE-UA à Abidjan Ouattara reciprocite Macron. https://www.afrique-sur7.fr/378462-sommet-ue-ua-abidjan-ouattara-reciprocite-macron (accessed 23.11.2021)
53. The authorities of Mali explained their desire to call on Russian PMCs: https://regnum.ru/news/ polit/3381254.html (accessed 01.24.2022)
54. Un mercenaire russe blessé au Mali. http://news.abamako.com/h/264256.html (дата обращения 02.01.2022)
55. US wants to reduce presence in Africa, warns top officer. https://www.france24.com/en/ 20200113-us-wants-to-reduce-presence-in-africa-warns-top-officer (дата обращения 12.11.2021)
56. Vasiliev A.P. General de Goll i krushenie frantcuzskoi imperii (General de Gaulle and the collapse of the French empire). National interests. 1999. No. 2 (3). S. 47.
57. Verschave F.-X. La Françafrique. Retranscription de conférences-débat données par F.X. Verschave, président de Survie de 1995 à 2005. http://survie.org/francafrique/article/la-francafrique (accessed 25.01.2022)
58. Verschave F.X. Noir silence. Qui arretera la Francafrique? Paris, Arenes. 2007. – 591 р.
59. Vincent Е. Risques et périls de la fin de «Barkhane» au Sahel. https://www.lemonde.fr/ international/article/2021/06/11/risques-et-perils-de-la-fin-de-barkhane_6083674_3210.html (accessed 23.11.2021)
60. Who are the traffickers? They are Africans: Macron loses his cool at Burkina Faso Q&A. https://on.rt.com/8tas (accessed 22.10.2020)
61. Zapolitique: «Un chef d’État ne peut pas se comporter comme ça». http://www.lepoint.fr/zapping-du-point/zapolitique-un-chef-d-etat-ne-peut-pas-se-comporter-comme-ca-29-11-2017-2176071_2470.php (accessed 23.11.2021)
62. Zubov N. Frantciia prodolzhaet “doit” kolonii v Afrike (France continues to “milk” colonies in Africa). http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1761267 (accessed 11.23.2021)
