As earlier highlighted, sources say, military presence will be heavily deducted on the African continent cutting across four nations in west and central Africa. This comes amid a growing anti-French sentiment in Africa.
Amid repression and a growing anti-French sentiment in former colonies across Africa, France intends to downsize the number of its troops stationed in west and central Africa.
According to multiple sources, the reduction of the French military footprint as announced in February 2023 by French president, Emmanuel Macron is estimated to drop to around 600. Government and military sources reveal Paris will maintain about 100 out of 350 in Central Africa’s Gabon, 300 from 1000 in Chad, 100 each from a contingent of 600 and 350 in Ivory Coast and Senegal respectively.
It should be recalled that until two years ago, in addition to around 1,600 forces pre-deployed in West Africa and Gabon, France had over 5000 troops in the Sahel region as part of the Barkhane anti- jihadist Operation.
Protests have grown in recent years, sparked by military takeovers and accusations of interference in internal affairs of former colonies. To address this, Jean Marie Bockel, French special envoy to Africa, tasked with negotiating new modalities of the French military presence with African partners told the Senate last month Paris would reduce its visible presence on the continent.
As of now, Chad ruled by President Mahamat Idriss Deby, son of Idriss Deby Itno is the last Sahel country to host French soldiers.
