The Quest For A New Form of Military Partnership
Reviving the ideals of Pan Africanism
A section of African Scholars considered the recent military disengagement of France from Burkina Faso,Mali,Niger and Chad as the second phase in the decolonisation of West Africa.A premise that is debatable because the context of the 1960s is different from the political parameters of this millennium.The supporters of the idea of a second decolonisation cite the cases of Senegal and Chad without references to the decision of the French government to transform these installations into regional law enforcement and advanced defence institutions.And we must accept that the pull outs from Mali,Burkina Faso and Niger fit into the parameters of a second decolonisation if we take into consideration their status as members of the Malian Federation and close to the Pan African ideas of President Kwame Nkrumah.
A Planned and Sustained Disengagement From Ivory Coast
A training department,the unit at Bourgerie and the Port-Bouet camp were the main components of France-Ivory Coast defence partnership,tactically described as the Forces Françaises en Cote d'Ivoire.Today this is also due to the presence of 400 soldiers with training,logistics and other services:army,navy and airforce,under the command of a Colonel,who is responsible to the Chief of Army Staff in France.Elements that are subject to operational re-adjustment as president Alassane Quattara declared on December 31 2024,There will be an organised and sustained withdrawal of French troops from Port-Bouet and the base will be transferred to the armed services of the Ivory Coast. In contrast to Senegal with 250 soldiers that constitute the Elements Français au Sénégal or the French defence unit in Senegal.
The Exposé of Jean-Marie Bockel Before The Defence Affairs Commission
For a long time,the withdrawal from Chad will be an object of verbal spats between Historians.As one section of Historians will describe the withdrawal as a second decolonisation and another section will classify it as a partial disengagement:Supporters of a partial withdrawal will cite all the radio interviews given by the author of Le Pouvoir Sans Visage,related to the late President Idris Deby and the opponents of a second decolonisation will base their points on the items on the agenda of the meeting between the French minister of foreign affairs and the President of Chad before the announcement of the withdrawal of French troops.
However,the November 6,2024 presentation by Jean-Marie Bockel.Who disclosed to the members of the Defence Affairs Commission that the instruction given to his team by President Macron,was to consult with African leaders, opinion shapers and to make recommendations to the government,on how to improve the working system of the military partnership with countries listed in his mission statement:Senegal,Ivory Coast,Gabon and Chad.And replies like we have many competitors on the spot,our counterparts are capable of making the difference between our services and the services of other providers to the questions of the legislators offer ideas and hints on the changes in the relations with Francophone West Africa.
Framework | Diplomacy | Geopolitics | Politics
