Recently Chad made a new announcement regarding ending its military ties with France. This decision by the nation highlights its desire to become fully independent and control its future. According to Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah Chad is proud of its sovereignty, and the nation has grown as time passes. This independence of the nation resulted in the departure of approximately 1000 French troops and fighter jets from Chad’s capital, N’Djamena.
This decision by Chad highlights the growing trend in West Africa. Many nations have already removed French troops from their land. This includes Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. All of these countries are making efforts to strengthen their new partnership with Russia.
Senegal also made the same announcement as Chad. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated that the country did not need French troops. This highlights that different African nations intend to become independent and do not want to rely on former colonial powers like France. For this purpose, they are making efforts to reduce the influence of other nations to take control of security and the future.
African nations shift their focus from France to Russia
The shift in the foreign policy of Senegal has aimed to focus on its national interest and enhance partnership with global powers equally. The leader expresses that reducing France’s influence in the nation’s military does not mean cutting ties with France. He compared China’s role in Senegal to France. China is one of the largest trade and economic partners of Senegal without interfering in its military matters. He said that this approach does not mean that Segenal has cut ties with China.
However, China and Russia are both using different strategies to increase their influence in West African nations. China pays attention to trade and economic matters. While Russia focuses on security and military cooperation. With this approach, Russia replaced France as the preferred military ally in countries like Mali, Niger, and the Central African Republic.
The political matters of various African nations are run under the leadership of younger, post-independence leaders. All of them seek diversity and independence. Russia is the central focus of all African nations. According to these nations, France’s interference in the country’s military matters is unfair, fueling the desire for new, equal partnerships.
The younger generation of African leaders feels that France, whose backing hinged on defending French interests, had an undue influence on their forebears. Even when their devotion and legitimacy at home were questioned, they saw these former presidents as dependent on French forces to stay in power. The new leadership’s alliances have changed as a result of this notion.
While China is considered a reliable economic ally, many of these leaders view Russia as a potential military and security partner. In contrast to Western help, which frequently entails demands for political alignment, China provides infrastructure funds, loans, and investment without any political constraints. For instance, 20% of African exports go to China, and 16% of imports come from the continent, making China the region’s top economic partner with $282 billion in commerce with Africa last year.
In a similar vein, Russia’s commerce with Africa increased by 35% to $24.6 billion in 2023. In addition to trade, Moscow bolstered its goodwill by providing food and vaccinations during the pandemic and forgiving $20 billion in African debt. Up to its disbandment in 2023, Russia’s Wagner Group was a significant military force in Africa. To carry on these efforts, the Russian Defense Ministry established the Russian African Corps.
Africa’s increasing desire for varied alliances outside of conventional Western powers is reflected in this change. France is losing its economic and military hegemony in Africa. Due to disagreements and changing allegiances, France, which was once a major force in the Sahel and its former colonies, is now withdrawing. This decrease is exemplified by a recent dispute over uranium production with Niger.
This change has been sped up by the emergence of younger African leaders, many of whom reject the influence of France. Chad was a crucial base for French military operations for many years, but Paris now has to deal with Russia, which is taking its place as Africa’s top security partner.
This trend is not limited to France. The United States also had to withdraw its soldiers from Niger, allowing Russia to take control of an air base. Growing African demands for apology and reparations point to a future dominated by Russia and China.
