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The anti-terrorist operation “Barkhane” completed its withdrawal from Mali on August 15, but “France remains committed to the Sahel, the Gulf of Guinea and the Lake Chad region”, repeated the Elysée in a press release published the same day. For Elie Tenenbaum, director of the Center for Security Studies at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), this transition should be an opportunity for Paris to change the military paradigm in West Africa.
The specialist in defense issues, author of a report entitled “After “Barkhane”: rethinking the French strategic posture in West Africa”, published in May, returns for The world on the lessons to be learned from the last nine years of operations in Mali and the ways to take to better respond to the security challenges in the region.
What is your assessment of the action carried out by “Barkhane” in Mali, between 2014 and 2022?
Beyond Operation Barkhane, which is only a military operation, we must look at the results of France’s action in Mali, and it is obviously negative. The initial aim was to stem the progression of jihadism in the Sahel and to develop a strong partnership with the Malian army to increase its power. However, today, this strategic partnership has been reduced to nothing, Bamako has denounced all the defense agreements signed with Paris, “Barkhane” has left and jihadism has continued to spread in the region and take root. in societies. Burkina Faso continues to sink, with a total absence of state control. The situation in western Niger remains worrying. Northern Benin is in a phase of advanced jihadization. The points of concern are strong in Togo and Côte d’Ivoire. As for Ghana, the situation is less serene than the authorities claim.
Certainly, counter-terrorism has produced results in nine years. There has been a real attrition in the ranks of the jihadists and important leaders have been eliminated. But we know very well that this is not enough. The leaders were replaced, the groups adapted to the modes of action of “Barkhane” and continued to recruit. In Mali, Burkina Faso and Afghanistan, jihadism feeds on problems of local governance, corrupt or non-existent justice, the absence of basic services and a predatory attitude of the security forces. Until these fundamental questions are answered, the movement will continue to progress.
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