Mustapha Tossa
The French opposition exploited the military coups taking place in the coastal region, many of which carry anti-French slogans, to launch scathing criticisms against President Emmanuel Macron and his African policies. This criticism was voiced both in the political arena and through the media, with the publication of two petitions. The first appeared in Le Figaro, signed by 94 members of parliament from various political backgrounds, primarily led by figures from the right-wing Republican Party. The second was published in Le Monde, signed by personalities affiliated with the left-wing alliance.
Both petitions share the common thread of holding President Macron responsible for the failures witnessed in French-African relations, which indirectly contributed to military coups that carried anti-French sentiments and resulted in the severing of security and economic ties between Paris and these African spaces. Given the gravity of the situations and the seriousness of the stakes, some individuals called for a parliamentary debate to analyze the vulnerabilities and develop a policy that matches the challenges France faces in these African regions.
These actions are considered an additional pressure factor by the French opposition on President Macron, who has been feeling a sense of international isolation. Signs of fundamental disagreements between him and his European and American allies have emerged regarding the optimal approach to ending the military coup in Niger and reinstating the constitutional order.
Since the outbreak of this crisis, which threatens France’s presence in one of its last and most important African strongholds, President Macron has adopted a resolute policy. He stated his readiness to support any option adopted by the West African regional group, including the military option. However, some European countries such as Italy and Germany have expressed reservations and doubts about the effectiveness of a military solution to this crisis. Complicating matters for Paris is the fact that the United States, initially aligned with Macron’s stance, has backtracked on the possibility of a military approach to deter the coup perpetrators in Niger.
Macron is in a difficult position in the Sahel region, facing international and regional isolation. The possibility of resolving the crisis militarily has diminished, and he is under internal pressure from the opposition to change his policy and approach towards African issues. These issues have so far led to a series of military coups that are hostile to French interests.