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| Africa North |
| End of French Africa. Who will take Macron's place on the Black Continent |
| 2023-08-29 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Olesya Orlenko “The era of “French Africa” is over, I confirm it,” said President Emmanuel Macron in an exclusive interview with Le Point, published on August 23, 2023. With these words, the French leader stated a reality that had existed for many years, which he himself, however, tried to deny even five years ago. Indeed, during the coup d'état in Niger, the French authorities remain in the toughest positions, not entering into any dialogue with the new government. Despite the fact that the situation risks ending with a break in diplomatic relations. So, the ambassador in Niger refused to answer the call of the Nigerian Foreign Ministry, and Macron demands "the restoration of constitutional order." On August 25, the putschists demanded to recall the French ambassador Sylvain Itte, and also accused the embassy security service of using weapons against peaceful demonstrators, and France itself of developing and implementing plans to destabilize Niger. But Macron has a different opinion on this matter. According to the President of France, it is only thanks to the military intervention of French soldiers as part of Operation Barhan that states such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger continue to exist at all. True, back in 2021, the media wrote about the colonial methods of the French troops in the Sahel region, as a result of which civilians die, and French soldiers return home in zinc coffins. This behavior naturally led to an increase in anti-French sentiment. Macron's admission of the failures of the French policy of "soft power" within the framework of a single Francophone space on the African continent is unlikely to please the military. In their circles, there is a very common view of the countries that were formerly French colonies as territories that, by definition, are within the sphere of French interests. It will also exacerbate the social situation within France itself, the complexity of which has manifested itself during the recent protests. The position voiced by Macron is also likely to affect the work of French enterprises in Niger and, possibly, in other African countries. The region is important for Europe as one of the possible sources of Russian gas replacement. Thus, the development of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project became an occasion for contacts between warring Morocco and Algeria. Literally on the eve of the coup, in July 2023, Algeria, Nigeria and Niger signed agreements on the construction of a trans-Saharan gas pipeline. Moreover, Algeria took over the costs associated with this project in the territory of Niger. However, in light of growing anti-French sentiment, French oil and gas companies are leaving Niger, yielding this area, in particular, to Chinese enterprises. In particular, in 2022, the Niger branch of Total sold its assets to the Mauritanian Star Oil Group. Another important industry for Europe and France, linking it with Niger, is uranium mining. French nuclear power plants operate on uranium, the importance of which has increased in the context of the energy crisis that Europe is currently experiencing. Uranium mines in Niger are being developed by the French state-owned company Orano. So far, the company says that development in Niger continues as normal, although it had to "mobilize forces" for this. Uranium mining in Niger by the French nuclear company AREVA The total dependence of the French nuclear industry on Niger uranium deposits is somewhat exaggerated. In fact, Niger is one of the three main suppliers of this raw material to France, along with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. France's interest in Mongolia is also growing as a large-scale supplier of various kinds of raw materials, including uranium. The loss of deposits in Africa will be for France, if not catastrophic, but economically very noticeable. And, no less important, they will have another negative effect on the state of public opinion. In general, about 30 French enterprises are now operating in Niger. All of them are trying to stay in the country after the coup and save investments. In addition to Orano, we are talking about the enterprises of the Vinci group of companies, Veolia, Nutriset and others. In many ways, they are able to work thanks to funding received, in particular, from the European Union. But they are all keeping a close eye on developments. At the moment, the diplomatic response to the circumstances seems to form the basis of the consensus of the key players in world politics. However, ECOWAS, after negotiations with Niger last weekend, rejected the proposal of General Abdurrahman Chiani , who seized power , to pause and wait for a “transition period” for three years, after which to return to geopolitical and economic decisions. Earlier, the Economic Community of West African States insisted on a military invasion of Niger. On Monday, August 28, speaking to the diplomatic corps, Macron reaffirmed his intransigence against the rebels and said that, on the basis of a "partnership approach", France would support ECOWAS's diplomatic, and if a decision is made, military efforts in Niger. The consequences that such an exit would entail would be catastrophic, including for the work of French enterprises. Against this background, the reaction of the United States, directly opposite to the actions of France, is indicative. Despite the fact that Washington is making every effort to support the deposed President Mohamed Bazum , right now, after a two-year break, a new ambassador to Niger has been appointed - Kathleen Fitzgibbon . Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the intervention announced by Niger's West African neighbors has not yet begun. |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #3 Me! Me! Me! The BRICS jump up and down yelling. |
| Posted by: magpie 2023-08-29 10:22 |
| #2 hope...is a plan. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2023-08-29 10:16 |
| #1 Would be nice if somehow West Africa found some unity as a result of this mess. They either need to rearrange a few borders to match tribal territories, or erase a few borders and hope for government that doesn't worship marxist ideology. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2023-08-29 09:23 |