https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240316/paris-is-reportedly-considering-joint-use-of-its-military-bases-in-africa-with-western-countries-1065591770.html
Paris is Reportedly Considering Joint Use of Its Military Bases in Africa With Western Countries
Paris is Reportedly Considering Joint Use of Its Military Bases in Africa With Western Countries
Sputnik Africa
Recently, France's military presence in Africa has been weakening. Countries like Niger and Burkina Faso denounced military agreements with Paris and demanded... 16.03.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-03-16T17:08+0100
2024-03-16T17:08+0100
2024-03-16T17:38+0100
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France is considering a joint use of its military bases in Africa with its allies, including the United States, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing Chief of the Defense Staff Thierry Burkhard.According to him, the visibility of French bases located in the capitals "has become difficult to manage," the AFP reported.The commander-in-chief reportedly noted that the creation of such joint bases depends on the consent of the allies. Burkhard also stressed that the size reduction of the French military contingent should not have “a noticeable impact on its effectiveness.”France currently has four military bases in Africa. A thousand troops are in Chad, 600 troops in Côte d'Ivoire, 450 in Senegal, and 400 in Gabon. Another 1,500 are stationed at a base in Djibouti.In February 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron said he intended to “significantly reduce” the French military presence on the African continent.France's position in Africa has been weakening recently. Thus, in March 2023, the authorities of Burkina Faso announced the termination of the military assistance agreement with France, concluded more than 60 years ago.Furthermore, after the coup d'état in Niger last year, the new authorities demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador and announced the termination of military agreements with Paris, demanding the withdrawal of its troops, which ended at the end of December last year.In his recent interview with the head of Rossiya Segodnya (Sputnik's parent media group), Dmitry Kiselev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Macron has some resentment towards Moscow for Russia's alleged “squeezing” of France out of Africa. In fact, Russia did not “squeeze” anyone out, and African countries independently chose cooperation with Russian economic actors, Putin emphasized.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240313/russia-not-inciting-anyone-in-africa-not-setting-anyone-against-france-putin-states-1065510851.html
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Paris is Reportedly Considering Joint Use of Its Military Bases in Africa With Western Countries
17:08 16.03.2024 (Updated: 17:38 16.03.2024) Recently, France's military presence in Africa has been weakening. Countries like Niger and Burkina Faso denounced military agreements with Paris and demanded withdrawal of its military personnel, which was supported by the local populations.
France is considering a joint use of its
military bases in Africa with its allies, including the United States, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing Chief of the Defense Staff Thierry Burkhard.
“Merging bases with American or other allies is desirable if we want to reduce our visibility while maintaining the necessary presence,” Burkhard said at a closed meeting of the defense commission in the French National Assembly.
According to him, the visibility of French bases located in the capitals "has become difficult to manage," the AFP reported.
“No doubt: we will have to change our presence plan to reduce our vulnerability. If we can do this with allies, it's even better,” he said, as cited by the media.
The commander-in-chief reportedly noted that the creation of such joint bases depends on the consent of the allies. Burkhard also stressed that the
size reduction of the French military contingent should not have “a noticeable impact on its effectiveness.”
France currently has four military bases in Africa. A thousand troops are in Chad, 600 troops in
Côte d'Ivoire, 450 in Senegal, and 400 in Gabon. Another 1,500 are stationed at a base in Djibouti.
In February 2023, French President
Emmanuel Macron said he intended to “significantly reduce” the French military presence on the African continent.
France's position in Africa has been
weakening recently. Thus, in March 2023, the authorities of Burkina Faso announced the termination of the military assistance agreement with France, concluded more than 60 years ago.
Furthermore, after the coup d'état in
Niger last year, the new authorities demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador and announced the termination of military agreements with Paris, demanding the withdrawal of its troops, which ended at the end of December last year.
In his
recent interview with the head of Rossiya Segodnya (Sputnik's parent media group), Dmitry Kiselev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Macron has some resentment towards Moscow for Russia's alleged “squeezing” of France out of Africa. In fact, Russia did not “squeeze” anyone out, and African countries independently chose cooperation with Russian economic actors, Putin emphasized.
