France in Africa: Why Macron’s policies increased distrust and anger
President Emmanuel Macron gets ready to chair the third plenary session of National Council for the Refoundation at the Elysee palace in Paris, France on September 7, 2023. PHOTO | THOMAS PADILLA | POOL | AFP
French west Africa has experienced five coups in the past three years. Underpinning most of these coups is hostility towards France, a former colonial authority. Mohamed Bazoum of Niger’s downfall in July 2023 comes after coups in Mali in August 2020, Chad in April 2021, Burkina Faso in September 2022 and Gabon in September 2023.
The perpetrators of these coups have, among their justifications, mentioned the overbearing influence of France and its president, Emmanuel Macron, in their affairs. The influence of France in military affairs and maintenance of dominance in business has been a key cog of the Macron agenda. Unlike other former colonial powers, France still has military bases in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Gabon.
