Emmanuel Macron’s personal envoy for Africa, Jean-Marie Bockel, spoke of the “remodeling” of the French military presence in Côte d’Ivoire, Wednesday February 21, during a visit to Abidjan, his first on the continent since taking office at the beginning of the month. “The term “remodel” seems to me to be the right term. The spirit is to come with proposals, listening and then a dialogue which results in a winning agreement for both parties”declared Mr. Bockel after a “rich exchange” of an hour with the Ivorian president, Alassane Ouattara.
Mr. Bockel, former Secretary of State for Cooperation under President Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-2008), was tasked on February 6 by Emmanuel Macron with discussing with African partners new forms of French military presence on their soil. It is in Côte d’Ivoire, a solid ally of France which shelters some 900 French soldiers within the 43e Marine infantry battalion, which he chose to make his first visit.
“We don’t want to reduce our efforts but it’s a global thing: there will be changes, the footprint will be less on certain aspects and stronger on others”he said, without giving details. “The prospects of our partnership in terms of security are prospects of supporting the strengthening of the sovereign military force of Côte d’Ivoire, its quantitative and qualitative rise in power”he added, referring to “a process that has already begun”.
The French soldiers were in turn expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso then Niger, three West African countries governed by military regimes that came to power through coups and are now openly hostile to France. For about a year, Paris has been highlighting its desire to profoundly transform its relations with the continent, repeating that it is above all listening to the requests of African partners, particularly on security issues.
In addition to Côte d’Ivoire, three other countries hosting bases are affected by these adaptations of the military system: Senegal, Gabon and Chad. Jean-Marie Bockel must make his recommendations to the Elysée in July.