The new terms of the French military presence in Africa provide for a significant reduction to retain only a permanent liaison detachment.
Emmanuel Macron's personal envoy to Africa, Jean-Marie Bockel, presented Monday to the French president his report on the reconfiguration of the French military system in Africa, which advocates a partnership “renewed” et “co-constructed”announced the Élysée. “The recommendations are part of the desire to implement a renewed defense partnership, responding to the needs expressed by our partners, and co-constructed with them, in full respect of their sovereignty”adds the presidency.
The mission of the former Secretary of State for Cooperation under former President Nicolas Sarkozy concerned the four countries where French military bases are located on the continent, excluding that of Djibouti: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Chad and Gabon .
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Lower prepositioned forces
Unlike other countries where he spoke with both the authorities and representatives of civil society, Jean-Marie Bockel was not able to go to Dakar and issue recommendations concerning Senegal, due to the presidential elections. and legislative elections which have taken place there in recent months. According to the plan envisaged by the executive and which should not be the subject of formal announcements, France plans to lower the prepositioned forces it has on its military holdings.
On November 6, Jean-Marie Bockel confirmed, during a hearing before the deputies of the Defense Committee, the reduction in size without revealing any figures, arguing that the data was classified. At the beginning of the summer, two sources close to the executive and a military source told AFP that the project aimed to keep around a hundred soldiers in Gabon (compared to 350 then), as many in Senegal (compared to 350) and in Ivory Coast (previously 600) as well as some 300 in Chad (compared to 1000).
The new terms of the French military presence in Africa provide for a significant reduction to maintain only a permanent liaison detachment and at the same time to adapt the offer of military cooperation to the needs expressed by these countries, it is explained. in Paris.
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