Challenges in Coordinating Africa Policy Present Obstacles for France’s Fragmented Government
On November 28, shortly after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot concluded a diplomatic visit to Chad, the Chadian government unexpectedly declared the termination of the defense cooperation agreement with the French Republic.
On the same day, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye informed the French media that “there will soon be no more French soldiers” present in Senegal.
“Senegal is an independent nation, a sovereign nation, and sovereignty does not permit the existence of military bases on its territory,” he stated.
France’s influence in Africa, which has faced increasing challenges since the end of colonialism—a system encapsulated by the term Françafrique—is under scrutiny. Recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have resulted in military regimes that are highly skeptical of French motives.
However, rather than formulating a coherent policy response, France finds itself engulfed in domestic political chaos. President Emmanuel Macron saw his appointed prime minister, Michel Barnier, ousted earlier this month after succumbing to a vote of no confidence over budget controversies. Barnier has now been succeeded by Francois Bayrou, a 73-year-old centrist.
Experts have highlighted that a fragmented French parliament complicates the development of effective policy towards Africa, especially in a time when traditional assumptions are being questioned, as noted by African Business.
Macron’s Approach
Since assuming office in 2017, President Macron has aimed to redefine France’s relationship with Africa to fit a new context.
In a speech at the University of Ouagadougou at the beginning of his first term, he emphasized that France should not dictate African policy, stressing the importance of recognizing Africa as an ally. Part of this strategy has included an openness to addressing the painful legacy of colonialism, albeit without officially apologizing in Algeria and other regions.
“I belong to a generation of French individuals who acknowledge the undeniable crimes of European colonization as part of our history,” he remarked, adding, “We are not here to instruct Africa on what to do.”
Macron’s outreach has also focused on fostering economic partnerships. During the 2021 Africa-France Summit in Montpellier, he committed to substantial investments aimed at promoting African enterprises and innovation.
In November, Macron enjoyed a warm welcome in Morocco, one of France’s closest allies on the continent. He signed agreements worth up to €10 billion across various sectors, including energy and infrastructure, with significant deals established with the French rail manufacturer Alstom and energy companies Engie and TotalEnergies. Macron also expressed support for Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, pledging investments in that region.
Nevertheless, while Macron sought to affirm France’s importance to Africa, he faces dwindling political clout domestically. The French parliament has become almost evenly split among far-right, left, and center-right factions, making consensus on Africa policy increasingly elusive.
Alseny Thiam, an associate researcher at the Strategic Think Tank on Security in the Sahel and the Institute for European Perspective and Security, indicates that the political discord within France complicates Macron’s attempts to reinforce France’s influence.
“This friction within the French government represents a quasi-cohabitation,” Thiam states, describing the situation where the president and prime minister hail from different political factions.
According to Thiam, this environment has adversely affected France’s diplomatic relations and internal policies.
Migration Issues
This disarray is notably visible in the realm of migration.
Foreign Minister Barrot insists that France’s connection with Africa goes beyond “mobility and migration concerns.”
“We are working to reconstruct our relationships with African nations, including economic, cultural, and civil society collaboration, even with those based in France…. While we tackle irregular migration alongside our African partners, it is only one of several pertinent topics,” he stated.
In contrast, his conservative counterpart Bruno Retailleau, who held the position of interior minister under Barnier, has remained intensely focused on reducing immigration. He has advocated for initiatives to decrease migration flows through agreements with African countries of origin and transit.
Caroline Roussy, research director at the French Institute of International and Strategic Affairs, observes that internal policy confusion has made it more challenging for Africans to enter France—a crucial factor in fostering closer political and economic ties.
“The issue of visas, controlled by the Ministry of the Interior rather than Foreign Affairs, is especially sensitive. It threatens to further strain already tense relations,” she noted.
“With another immigration bill likely to take prominence in January in France, this matter feels particularly urgent. It is deeply stigmatizing and carries the potential for political exploitation within African nations,” she added.
“In Senegal, for example, visa appointments have been outsourced to private agencies, resulting in exorbitant fees ranging from €600 to €800. This undermines trust and accessibility to France for African students and professionals… The role of cultural diplomacy in this evolving landscape remains significant. It continues to strengthen connections.”
New African leaders often lack historical ties to Paris, making the establishment of new people-to-people connections—especially at the political level—more crucial than ever, according to her.
“Today’s African elites—like Mali’s Assimi Goïta or Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré—did not study in France or foster relationships with French counterparts. We are in a new phase where France’s historical influence is being challenged, creating a void that other powers can fill,” she elaborated.
Colonial Contradictions
Migration is not the only sphere where the administration has struggled to unify its messaging. Macron’s attempts to express remorse for France’s colonial history in Africa faced setbacks when Retailleau made a more favorable assessment of the empire on national radio just before taking office.
“Colonization was, undoubtedly, a dark period, but it was also a beautiful time, characterized by helping hands,” he remarked.
Retailleau had previously criticized Macron’s African strategies before entering the government, attributing the president’s failure to address the rise of “anti-French sentiment” in the region, pointing to Morocco’s refusal of French aid during the 2023 earthquakes and a series of military coups in the Ecowas region.
The appointment of centrist Bayrou might bring greater coherence to the African policy-making process.
However, as Barrot and Retailleau retain their positions as foreign and interior ministers respectively, such coherence is far from assured.