Macron: Significant reduction of French forces in Africa

The announcement could be seen against the backdrop of the major withdrawals already taking place from Mali and Burkina Faso, where French forces have been fighting jihadist militants for years.

Change will happen in the coming months, with a significant reduction in our numbers (troops) and a greater presence based on our African partners.

Macron’s statement comes two days before the start of a tour of the African continent.

According to the plan, the French president will visit Gabon, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa. The trip is also being interpreted as a response to the growing interest in Africa from Russia and China – although the latter country has long forged strong ties with many countries on the continent.

Macron, who announced the plan in a speech from the Elysee Palace on Monday, described France’s upcoming policy on Africa as a “new security partnership” and the beginning of a “new era”.

The French president stressed that the country should now stop interfering in African countries in which it was a colonial power and its own affairs, and that the view of Africa as France’s “backyard” is incorrect.

– And I must be very clear. He continued in his speech that it is not France’s task to fix all the problems in Africa.