France's games in Africa: NGOs as a new weapon Paris Does Not Abandon Political Manipulation

BBC Monitoring has published a report exposing France's political manipulations in Africa. Caliber.Az republishes the material with minor modifications.   

France is allegedly adopting a new strategy to maintain influence in Africa through select non-governmental organizations (NGOs) following the decline of its military and political presence on the continent, several African media outlets have reported.

The reports from Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Chad, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic (CAR), claimed that Paris was leveraging its "soft power" tools in response to growing hostility towards its traditional diplomatic and military engagements.

In late 2024, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Chad announced that the French soldiers would be leaving, following in the footsteps of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Djibouti and Gabon are now the only African countries where France retains forces.

Chad's privately-owned  Journal Du Tchad published a report on February 2 claiming that French NGOs on the continent, "not only [exist] for humanitarian aid, but also for political manipulation".

"A prominent example is the Innovative Projects of Civil Societies and Coalitions of Actors (PISCCA) programmes funded by the French embassy in Cameroon. In 2019 - 2020, 400,000 euros were allocated for its implementation," the report said. 

"Despite good intentions, these programmes are often controlled by external forces, which calls into question their independence and their true objectives. In the CAR, these initiatives may serve not so much to support the local population as to promote French interests," it added. 

The outlet claimed that a human rights programme run by the French Development Agency in CAR has been accused of using its networks to promote French interests "under the guise of human rights work".

Journal Du Tchad said CAR authorities in 2024 disrupted a plan by French journalists who tried to drive a disinformation campaign against the government, "underlining the banner of journalism and human rights work lies an attempt to destabilize the situation in the country".

Budgetary aid

The same claims were repeated on 2 February by CAR's privately-owned Radio Lengo Songo which said that "the West is trying to multiply charm offensives to flatter President Faustine Touadera".

Mali's privately-owned Bamada.Net reported said on February 2 that France was now focused on organizing various cultural and educational events, as well as encouraging more active interaction of embassies with the local population.

"In 2022, the Malian government banned all non-governmental organizations funded or supported by France and also accused France of supporting terrorist groups through these NGOs," the outlet said.

"It can be concluded that France is looking for solutions to influence the African continent. If it is not possible to control the territory by military force, France imagines all kinds of programmes to control information, the media in the country, and sponsors organizations that will promote French interests and values."

"Instruments of political manipulation"

Burkina Faso's Burkina 24, an independent news portal, published a column on February 2 repeating claims that France's humanitarian activities in CAR have become "instruments of political manipulation". 

The article also repeated claims against activities of French NGOs in Cameroon and the arrest of two French journalists in northern CAR. 

"The loss of trust on the part of African countries casts doubt on the possibility of Paris successfully restoring its position on the continent. However, one should not neglect the information that France is increasingly interfering in African affairs through the sponsorship of various French NGOs," the outlet said. 

Togo's privately-owned Togo Breaking News website also published a report on the same day claiming that France has been trying "to influence public opinion and the mobilization of the local population against its leaders through various demonstrations under the aegis of official organizations".

The outlet said that this was France's "favoured method" of countering its declining presence in Africa which has "a sign of the gradual end of the model of influence inherited from colonialism". 

"France has lost its presence in Africa due to the rise of anti-French sentiment in recent years. After Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Chad also announced in November 2024 the end of its military partnership with France, proving that France has lost a new zone of influence in the region," the report said.

"In order to maintain its presence in the face of popular and political rejection, Paris is now adopting a more moderate but perhaps more effective approach: providing comprehensive support to human rights defenders, activists and opinion leaders who support its interests." 

"Domination of conscience"

Cameroon's privately-owned Actu Cameroun reported on February 2 that France "is now looking for new levers to maintain its hold on the continent" after being kicked out of most of the west African countries.

"France is currently rolling out an action plan aimed at strengthening its influence in Africa through the financing of civil society organizations. These NGOs, under the guise of promoting human rights and democracy, will play a key role in propagating the ideological line dictated by Paris. The idea is simple: Replace military influence with a domination of conscience," the outlet said.

"This strategy is part of a broader trend in which Western powers, having failed to maintain their military presence, are turning to more insidious forms of influence. The goal is clear: to shape African public opinion from within, bypassing hostile governments." 

The reporting and allegations, whether accurate or part of broader information campaigns aimed at discrediting France, underscore the competition for influence in Africa.

African countries that were traditionally aligned with France are increasingly shifting their military partnerships toward Russia, China, and Türkiye.

By Aghakazim Guliyev