Both China and Japan established their first overseas military bases since World War II in Djibouti, which is the only country in the world to host both American and Chinese outposts. Africa is home to at least 47 foreign outposts, with the United States controlling the largest number, followed by France. Hippolyte Fofack, chief economist and director of research at the African Export-Import Bank, noted that 13 foreign countries in 2019 were carrying out military operations on African soil, more than in any other region, and most have several bases across the continent. Onyekachi Wambu, a journalist, said: “Where in the past a consensus existed in the region for ECOMOG to intervene in Sierra Leone and Liberia as part of a home-grown collective security initiative, now the region looks to once more be inviting in different external players to resolve its issues.” France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, helping to fight an insurgency by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State that has destabilised West Africa’s Sahel region. Niger’s junta last week revoked a portfolio of military cooperation agreements with France. There have been a series of anti-French and pro-coup protests in Niger’s capital Niamey, with demonstrators waving Russian flags and chanting ‘Long live Russia’, ‘Long live Putin’, and ‘Down with France’.įrench troops withdrew from Mali in 2022 and Burkina Faso in 2023 following military coups. Niger has seen rising anti-French sentiment since its military deposed the president and took power on Wednesday. In recent months, several countries in the sub-region have moved to end their military ties with France, demanding French troops leave the region. Paris has had a longstanding habit of meddling in the political, economic, and military affairs of its former colonies on the continent, including foisting the use of the CFA franc, a West African currency that critics see as a vestige of colonialism.įrance’s argument that it maintains a presence solely to help countries in West Africa is increasingly being repudiated. Internal conflicts in Africa have naturally unlocked the door to outside meddling.įrance’s historical role as a guarantor of security across Francophone West Africa is now being openly challenged in a number of countries.
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