Jean-Marie Bockel, 73, was appointed on February 2 by the Elysée, “personal envoy” by Emmanuel Macron. His mission : “Refound” France’s relations with African countries. The former Secretary of State for Cooperation under Nicolas Sarkozy (June 2007-March 2008), who lost one of his sons in a helicopter accident as part of Operation “Barkhane” in 2019, in particular for the roadmap of “review the formats and methods of action” of the future French military presence on the continent, seriously undermined since 2022 and the successive coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, causing the withdrawal of French forces from the Sahel.
Are you here to “sign the death certificate of Françafrique”, as you announced in 2008 under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, before being removed from office?
No, I’m not here for that. Since that time, I have had multiple opportunities to work on the African continent. I have always had an interest in Africa and, in sixteen years, it seems to me that things have changed a lot.
Is Françafrique, which you denounced, totally buried?
If I said that, we would always find representatives of the old networks trying to keep control. It’s even a little pathetic. It can exist here or there. To say otherwise would be to be blind and lying. But that’s no longer the subject and that’s fortunate. We have turned the page.
There are sometimes still predatory speeches that can be made, but they do not concern France. We are the second largest investor in Africa. In twenty years, our investments on this continent have doubled. The African economy has fully taken its place. We are the fourth largest aid donor. It’s not just words. We take into account African youth. Africa is our future.
What then is the meaning of your mission?
My mission letter concerns in particular the French military presence in Chad, Gabon, Senegal and Ivory Coast, which is intended to evolve, as it always has. [la base de Djibouti, qui compte environ 2 500 hommes n’est pas concernée]. But at the same time, my mission is also to have a broad vision, a 360° vision, on all the issues of partnerships and renewal of the relationship with these countries, which range from economic investments to humanitarian aid and development. The security and defense relationship is only one aspect. It’s about constantly having this complete vision in mind.
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