French President Emmanuel Macron has asserted that without France’s military operations in the Sahel region, countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and possibly Niger might not have survived.
Macron made these claims during an interview with French publication Le Point, where he referred to France’s interventions in the mid-2000s, including Operations Serval and Barkhane.
He highlighted that these interventions were carried out “at the request of African states” and characterized them as “successful.” However, the French President’s policy in the Sahel region has recently come under scrutiny as France lost its last remaining ally, Niger, and faced increasing negative sentiment from Africans.
Macron explained that while France views these operations as a matter of “honour” and “responsibility,” the country cannot remain involved “when there is a coup d’état, and the priority of the new regimes is not to fight terrorism.” He acknowledged the tragic consequences this situation has on the affected states.
In the interview, Macron defended his administration’s Sahel policy, emphasizing a focus on partnership rather than solely security concerns. Despite a recent announcement by coup leader General Abdurahman Tchiani terminating all military agreements between Niger and France, over a thousand French troops continue to be stationed at a military base in the region.
