Currently, Paris is reassessing its military presence in Africa. The French army has recently established a command for Africa, mirroring longstanding practices of the American military. However, France’s military personnel in Africa are in sharp decline, as reported in the Official Journal.
In response to recent challenges and setbacks faced by French forces in the Sahel region, France has decided to establish an Africa command with Brigadier General Pascal Ianni at its head. Ianni has a background in information warfare and influence strategies within the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The executive is considering maintaining around a hundred soldiers in countries like Gabon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Chad while reducing the overall number of troops on the ground. The French military base in Djibouti will not be impacted by these reductions.
In recent years, France had over 5,000 soldiers in the Sahel region as part of Operation Barkhane. However, political changes in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have led to a reevaluation of French military presence in the region. President Emmanuel Macron tasked former minister Jean-Marie Bockel with discussing new arrangements for the French military presence with African partners, with conclusions expected in July.
