Global Retreat of France from West Africa Warrants International Concern
France Exits West Africa, Leaving a Security Vacuum
As of mid-2025, France has completed its military withdrawal from West Africa, marking the end of several decades of engagement in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Senegal [1][3][5]. This move signifies the end of France’s direct military involvement in the region, with the handover of its last major military base in Senegal in July 2025.
The French government has made it clear that West African security is no longer their responsibility, and they are shifting towards non-military forms of cooperation [1][3][5]. Meanwhile, the United States continues some military presence and operations in the Sahel region, including drone operations and AFRICOM-led training missions [4].
The French withdrawal has raised serious concerns about the security vacuum in the Sahel, an area already grappling with violent extremist groups, political instability, and military coups [1][3]. Countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which partly relied on French military support to combat terrorist threats, now face increasing insecurity and challenges in maintaining stability without France’s military backing [1][3].
This transition coincides with growing anti-French sentiment and a push by some West African states for sovereignty and alternative security partnerships [2][4]. Senegal’s explicit ousting of the French military presence signals wider political shifts in West Africa, emphasizing the desire for military and economic self-sufficiency among local governments [2].
France intends to maintain influence through alternative, non-military means such as economic and diplomatic cooperation, but the effectiveness of these efforts relative to security remains to be seen [1].
Regional Security and Development Challenges
The departure of western forces from the Sahel and surrounding countries is a shared regional desire to part ways with former colonial powers. However, it leaves a gap in regional security that complicates efforts to counter militancy and maintain stability [1][2][3][4][5].
The unchecked rise of terrorism in West Africa may eventually spread to other regions. Terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS control 40% of Burkina Faso's territory, and Jamaat Nusrat Al Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of extremist factions including a local branch of Al Qaeda, is conducting operations across the region, including in Togo, Benin, and the Ivory Coast [2].
Without the support of western forces, local militaries in the region have struggled to stem the rising tide of extremism. West African countries are diversifying their security arrangements, with countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger procuring the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone, and Turkey's defense industry delivering armored vehicles and light attack aircraft to local militaries [2].
The cut in US development aid is a concern for West African governments, as more than a third of their government spending traditionally comes from international assistance [2]. The long-term impact on regional development is uncertain but includes potential challenges due to heightened insecurity and ongoing political instability [1][2][3][4][5].
Global Implications
The rest of the world should pay heed to the situation in West Africa. Russia initially increased its footprint in Africa through the deployment of the Wagner Group, but its influence has declined due to a failed mutiny led by the group’s founder [2]. The Kremlin has instead sought to replace Wagner with a paramilitary group called the Africa Corps.
West Africa is now considered the center of terrorist operations worldwide. Military bases in Mali are under constant attack from terrorist groups, and JNIM claimed more than 240 attacks in the first half of this year, double the number for the same period last year [2]. The unchecked rise of terrorism in West Africa poses a threat not only to the region but to the global community as well.
[1] BBC News (2025). France completes withdrawal from West Africa. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-62310053
[2] Al Jazeera (2025). Turkey's growing influence in West Africa. [Online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/22/turkey-s-growing-influence-in-west-africa
[3] Reuters (2025). France hands over Senegal military base, ends West Africa operations. [Online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/france-hands-over-senegal-military-base-ends-west-africa-operations-2025-07-01/
[4] Voice of America (2025). US military presence in Africa amid French withdrawal. [Online] Available at: https://www.voanews.com/a/us-military-presence-in-africa-amid-french-withdrawal/6304031.html
[5] The Guardian (2025). France's withdrawal from West Africa: what does it mean for the region and the world? [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/01/frances-withdrawal-from-west-africa-what-does-it-mean-for-the-region-and-the-world
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