Double slap for Macron: Chad and Senegal reject French military presence Le Monde exposes cracks in France’s African strategy

An article from Le Monde examines a significant diplomatic setback for France, as both Chad and Senegal demanded the withdrawal of French troops from their territories. Caliber.Az presents an analysis of the piece for its readers.

These developments, the article stresses, represent a stark rebuke to President Emmanuel Macron’s approach to African relations — one marked by small, unclear steps and a failure to engage with the continent's shifting political and economic realities.

The article notes that the double slap France received was all the more stinging for its timing. On Thursday, November 28, Chad declared the termination of its defence agreement with France, followed by Senegal's announcement that it, too, no longer desired the presence of French military personnel on its soil. The motivations behind these decisions, the article stresses, are virtually identical: both countries are asserting their sovereignty and independence in no uncertain terms. Chad’s leadership declared that it was time for the nation to "assert its full and complete sovereignty," while Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye bluntly questioned, "Why should there be French soldiers in Senegal?" He emphasized that such a presence contradicted their conception of sovereignty.

What makes these decisions even more jolting for Paris, the piece notes, is the timing of the announcements. Chad's move came just after a visit from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, while Senegal’s declaration coincided with Macron’s public acknowledgement of a dark chapter in French colonial history — acknowledging the "massacre" of Senegalese soldiers at Thiaroye, near Dakar, on December 1, 1944, a long-neglected event.

This diplomatic setback is particularly painful for Chad, the first colony to join Free France during World War II. For decades, the country has served as a critical base for French military operations in Africa, with around 1,000 French troops stationed there. In comparison, Senegal hosted just 350 French soldiers. The article stresses that this move follows a string of humiliations for France, with French forces being ousted from Mali in 2022, and from Burkina Faso and Niger in 2023, signalling another significant retreat for Paris.

While Chad and Senegal differ in their political systems — Chad under an authoritarian military regime and Senegal as a democratic nation — the article highlights that their opposition to French military presence shares common ground: widespread public rejection, particularly among young people, and the growing appeal of offers from other global powers such as the United States, Russia, China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

The article stresses that France’s missteps stem from its failure to adapt to the changing realities of Africa, particularly within its former colonies. For too long, France felt at home on the continent, the article notes, and it has been slow to understand the global shifts affecting African nations. Despite Macron's rhetoric about forging a new relationship with Africa—one free from the burden of colonialism — his strategy has been one of cautious, piecemeal steps. This approach, heavily influenced by certain sectors of the French political and military establishment, has failed to recognize the urgency of the moment, leaving France in an increasingly isolated position.

Rather than proactively outlining a clear and negotiated withdrawal, Macron opted for delay tactics, such as appointing Jean-Marie Bockel as a "personal envoy" to report on the situation. However, the article stresses that his report, submitted on November 25 and kept confidential, was swiftly rendered irrelevant by the decisions of both Senegal and Chad. Now, the author warns, the French government must urgently adopt a more far-sighted, coherent strategy. Otherwise, it will remain out of touch with the evolving political landscape of Africa, increasingly sidelined in favour of new, opportunistic international players vying for influence on the continent.

By Tamilla Hasanova