France will reduce its West African military footprint

Significance

French forces completed their withdrawal from Mali in August. The current force posture, with some 3,000 troops based mostly in Niger and Chad, will remain unchanged in the short term. Macron promises a new regional strategy in the next six months, although this follows earlier similar commitments that have not materialised.

Impacts

• France will seek to increase military cooperation with anglophone countries, especially Ghana.
• The number of French troops deployed in Niger may decline in the medium term.
• Ongoing French support for the Chadian junta may intensify regional anti-French feeling.