A “visible” reduction in the French military presence in Africa, the establishment of a “new partnership model” to increase the strength of African forces, joint management of bases with host countries… These are the broad outlines of the “Strategy for Africa”, unveiled by President Macron in February 2023.
Since then, following the putsch in Niamey, Niger has taken these intentions literally, the French forces having been asked to pack up by the junta now in power… Which means that France can only count on Chad to maintain a military presence in the Sahelo-Saharan strip [BSS].
Hence the importance of the planned air base [BAP] from N’Djamena, which recalls the Center for Strategic Aerospace Studies [CESA] of the Air Force & Space Force in the latest issue of its magazine “Carnets de vols”, is the “strategic support point for French operations in Central and West Africa” as well as a “combat tool, joint, versatile, with a long range of action” and an “autonomous logistics base capable of supporting a significant and varied increase in power”.
And the CESA adds that the “land authorized by the Chadian government offers significant capacity for development, the current land agreement ending in 2033”. In addition, he underlines, “the Chadian territory allows the maintenance of specific operational know-how to be ready to intervene at any time”.
At the time of Mr. Macron’s announcements, the French forces in the Sahel were already implementing an operational partnership with the Chadian army. The same goes for the “co-management” of military assets, with the N’Djamena BAP being located on the Chadian air base “Sergent-chef Adji Kosseï”. But it is a question of going further, with their numbers to be reduced by two thirds, if we are to believe the plans currently being finalized.
According to several concordant sources, except for the case of Djibouti, which falls under the Indo-Pacific strategy, there is also talk of keeping only a hundred posts in Gabon. [contre 350 actuellement]in Ivory Coast [contre 600] and in Senegal [contre 350]. In short, the size of French forces in Africa would be equivalent to that of a large battalion… And this while, at the same time, Russia continues to extend its influence on the continent.
On this point, during a parliamentary hearing, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces [CEMA]General Thierry Burkhard, explained that the reduction of this military presence in Africa would not call into question the capacity to gather intelligence and to “exercise influence in the field of information warfare”. In addition, it will also be a question of maintaining the capacity to quickly increase in power if necessary, especially since France is still linked to several African countries by defense agreements.
This reorganization will be based on an “Africa Command” [CDT Afrique]the creation of which was confirmed by a decree published on April 10.
“The Africa Command is an operational staff at the operational level, a joint organization reporting to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. Dedicated to operations in Africa, it is responsible, in its area of responsibility, for the preparation and conduct of joint operations or operational engagements in all environments and material or immaterial fields. […] It is subordinate to the Operations Planning and Control Center [CPCO] as an operational controller,” specifies this decree.
This Africa CDT will be led “by a general officer assisted by a second-in-command general officer, who replaces him in the event of his absence or incapacity,” he continues.
In recent days, some sources have indicated that General Pascal Ianni was expected to take the reins of this new command. This was confirmed at the Council of Ministers on June 26.
Saint-Cyrien [promotion 1992-95 « Capitaine Stéphane »] and former corps commander of the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment [RIMa]General Ianni is currently assigned to the “military prospective and strategy” division of the EMA.
Particularly aware of the information war waged by Russia against France in Africa [il était porte-parole de l’EMA au moment de l’affaire de Gossi et il fait plusieurs interventions sur ce thèmes, ndlr]General Ianni will take up his new duties on August 1.
Photo: General Pascal Ianni, when he was spokesperson for the EMA [avec les galons de colonel]
