France to unveil new economic, military strategy in Africa

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to call for a more balanced partnership with African nations, in a speech at the Elysee Presidential palace before he begins Africa trip to Gabon, Angola, the Republic of Congo and Congo.

French President Emmanuel Macron will unveil on February 27 his country's changing economic- and military strategy in Africa in the coming years, as France's influence substantially declines on the continent.

Mr. Macron is expected to call for a more balanced partnership with African nations, in a speech at the Elysee Presidential palace before he begins an ambitious Africa trip on Wednesday to Gabon, Angola, the Republic of Congo and Congo.

Monday's speech comes at a time when France's influence on the continent is facing more challenges than it has in decades. In less than a year, French troops had to withdraw from Mali, which turned instead to Russian military contractors, and most recently from Burkina Faso, which also appears to increasingly look towards Moscow.

A growing anti-France sentiment has led to street protests in several West and North African countries against the former colonial power. In addition, historical economic ties that France had with the region are being challenged by the growing commercial presence of Russia, China and Turkey.

“It's not a trip that aims at getting into the race to regain a regretted influence," a top official at the French Presidency said. The trip isn't aimed to “try to get back to the past. It's more to respond to a demand for partnership, for relations, but with new methods and a new approach,” he said.

The official was speaking on conditions of anonymity in line with the French Presidency's customary practices. Mr. Macron is notably expected to detail changes that France will bring in its military deployment in the Sahel region.

Last year, he announced the formal end of the so-called Barkhane military force after France withdrew its troops from Mali. French operations to help fight Islamic extremists in the Sahel region are now focussing mostly on Niger and Chad, where the country still has about 3,000 troops.