France’s Evolving Role in the Sahel: From the G‑5 Sahel to a New Regional Landscape
In a recent interview with FRANCE 24, RFI and TV5Monde, French President Emmanuel Macron reflected on France’s military and diplomatic engagement in the Sahel. He acknowledged that while French forces were present in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the approach lacked the consistency needed to translate security gains into lasting stability.
The Birth of the G‑5 Sahel
In 2017, the five Sahelian states—Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger—launched the G‑5 Sahel as a bold regional partnership aimed at tackling intertwined security, development and political challenges. The initiative was formally announced in Nouakchott on 16 February 2014, but the operational joint force only came into being three years later.
- Objective: Combine military action against extremist groups with cross‑border development projects.
- Joint Force: Established in 2017 to combat terrorism, trafficking and other transnational crimes.
- Support: Backed by France, the European Union and various international partners.
Early Achievements and Growing Strain
During its first years, the G‑5 Sahel joint force conducted several operations that disrupted militant logistics and seized weapons caches. However, analysts from the International Crisis Group note that progress was uneven:
- Security gains were often temporary, with militants re‑establishing presence after French‑led operations withdrew.
- Development programs lagged behind military efforts, leaving many liberated areas without functional administration or basic services.
- Political instability within member states—coups in Mali (2020, 2021), Burkina Faso (2022) and Niger (2023)—undermined coordinated decision‑making.
Macron’s Candid Assessment
Speaking to the French media outlets, Macron admitted that the alliance suffered from an over‑reliance on military promises:
“The problem is that we haven’t really been tougher or perhaps more assertive on this front. We haven’t pushed leaders more forcefully to intervene more quickly with administrative measures, development, empowerment projects and opportunities wherever areas have been retaken from terrorists.”
He added that a security guarantee alone created a false sense of completion, and that a more challenging dialogue on governance and economic renewal should have occurred earlier.
The Political Break‑With France
By 2022, popular sentiment in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger had turned against the French presence. Protests accused France of neo‑colonial interference and claimed that its troops had not reduced insecurity. Consequently:
- Mali requested the withdrawal of French forces in May 2022; the process was completed by August.
- Burkina Faso followed suit in early 2023, expelling French soldiers and ending joint patrols.
- Niger announced the departure of French troops in September 2023, completing the pull‑out by year‑end.
These moves were accompanied by a strategic pivot toward new security partners, most notably Russia, with the three states signing defence cooperation agreements that included military training and equipment transfers.
Birth of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)
In the wake of the French exit, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in late 2023. The AES aims to deepen political, military and economic integration among its members, independent of traditional Western frameworks.
Shortly after its creation, the AES countries also announced their simultaneous withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a decision that further reshaped regional diplomacy and limited France’s influence in its former sphere of influence.
The End of the G‑5 Sahel
With Mali’s departure in 2022, followed by Burkina Faso and Niger in 2023, the G‑5 Sahel lost the critical mass needed to sustain its joint force. On 6 December 2023, the alliance was officially dissolved, marking the conclusion of one of Africa’s most ambitious experiments in regional security cooperation.
Observers from the United Nations Africa Renewal warn that the vacuum left by the G‑5 Sahel could be filled by competing external actors, underscoring the need for inclusive, locally owned solutions that marry security with sustainable development.
Conclusion: Lessons for Future Engagement
Macron’s candid reflection highlights a recurring theme in international interventions: military action must be paired with robust political and economic strategies to achieve durable peace. The Sahel’s recent trajectory shows that when security initiatives are perceived as detached from local governance and development aspirations, they risk fostering resentment and prompting strategic realignments.
For France and other external partners, the path forward lies in:
- Co‑designing programs with Sahelian governments and civil society.
- Ensuring that liberated territories receive rapid administrative reconstruction, basic services and livelihood opportunities.
- Maintaining flexible, transparent communication channels that allow for timely course‑correction.
Only by embedding experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness into every step can external actors hope to support a stable, prosperous Sahel that reflects the aspirations of its peoples.
