In the high-altitude clarity of Nairobi, where the skyline meets the sprawling greenery of the Kenyan capital, President Emmanuel Macron sat down for a candid reflection on a legacy that has been as volatile as the regions he sought to influence. Speaking with France 24, RFI, and Le Monde during the Africa Forward Summit, the French president attempted to synthesize eight years of diplomacy that began with the sweeping idealism of his first term and ended in the complex, often fractured reality of the mid-2020s.
For Macron, the interview was more than a routine press engagement. it was a strategic effort to reclaim the narrative of France’s role in Africa. Since 2017, his administration has navigated a precarious transition from the era of “Françafrique”—the paternalistic, often opaque network of influence established post-independence—toward what he calls a “partnership of equals.” However, as he recapped his two terms, the shadow of the Sahel remained the most persistent ghost in the room.
Having reported from the diplomatic hubs of Cairo and the fragile borderlands of the Sahel over the last decade, I have watched this shift in real-time. The optimism that defined Macron’s early speeches in Ouagadougou has been tempered by a series of military coups and a surging tide of anti-French sentiment across West Africa. In Nairobi, Macron sought to frame these setbacks not as failures of vision, but as the necessary frictions of a continental awakening.
The Sahelian Retreat and the End of Barkhane
The centerpiece of Macron’s reflection focused on the strategic pivot in the Sahel. For years, Operation Barkhane served as the vanguard of French counter-terrorism efforts in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Yet, the interview highlighted a sobering admission: military presence alone could not solve the underlying crises of governance and poverty.
The president addressed the forced withdrawals from Mali and Niger, where military juntas seized power and demanded the departure of French troops. Macron argued that France’s exit was an acknowledgment of national sovereignty, though critics argue it was a reactive retreat in the face of rising Russian influence. The vacuum left by France has been rapidly filled by the Wagner Group and other Russian paramilitary interests, a geopolitical shift that Macron admitted has complicated the security architecture of the region.
The president emphasized that France is moving away from “interventionist” diplomacy. The new strategy focuses on “selective engagement,” prioritizing bilateral ties with stable partners like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire rather than attempting to act as the region’s overarching security guarantor.
Redefining the ‘Partnership of Equals’
Beyond security, Macron utilized the interview to detail his efforts to dismantle the remnants of colonial-era dynamics. This includes the high-profile return of looted cultural artifacts and a push to modernize economic ties. He argued that the goal is no longer for France to “lead” Africa, but to walk alongside it.
Central to this is the economic pivot. Macron pointed to increased investments in African startups and green energy transitions, attempting to move the relationship beyond the traditional extraction of raw materials. However, the “partnership of equals” remains a contested phrase in the streets of Bamako and Niamey, where the CFA franc—the currency tied to the Euro—continues to be a symbol of monetary imperialism for many activists.
To illustrate the evolution of his policy, the following table outlines the shift in French strategic priorities across his two terms:
| Focus Area | First Term (2017-2022) | Second Term (2022-Present) |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Large-scale military intervention (Barkhane) | Localized support and intelligence sharing |
| Diplomacy | Multilateral leadership/Paternalism | Bilateral “Partnership of Equals” |
| Economics | Resource-based trade | Tech investment and Green Energy |
| Cultural | Preservation of French influence | Restitution of artifacts and cultural exchange |
The Global South and the Russian-Chinese Nexus
A significant portion of the discussion touched upon the broader competition for influence. Macron acknowledged that Africa is no longer a “sphere of influence” for any single power. The rise of China’s infrastructure loans and Russia’s security pacts has forced France to compete on a global stage where it no longer holds a monopoly.
Macron’s approach in Nairobi suggested a pragmatic acceptance of this multipolarity. He noted that while France cannot compete with China’s wallet or Russia’s opportunistic security deals, it can offer “quality partnerships” based on transparency, democratic values, and long-term sustainability. This “third way” is a gamble that relies on African nations eventually tiring of the transactional nature of authoritarian partnerships.
Stakeholders and Impact
- West African Juntas: Continue to leverage anti-French sentiment to consolidate power, viewing Macron’s “partnership” as too little, too late.
- African Youth: The primary demographic driving the demand for a total break from colonial ties, often skeptical of Macron’s rhetoric.
- EU Leadership: Looking to France to maintain a stable gateway to Africa to ensure migration control and energy security.
- The African Union: Seeking a more balanced relationship with Europe that doesn’t prioritize European security over African development.
The Path Forward
The Nairobi interview serves as a waypoint for a presidency that has spent years trying to balance the baggage of history with the demands of the future. While Macron presents his record as one of courageous reform, the reality on the ground remains fragmented. The success of his “second-term” strategy will not be measured by speeches in Kenya, but by whether France can maintain meaningful ties with a generation of Africans who feel no loyalty to the ghosts of the 20th century.
The next critical checkpoint for this evolving relationship will be the upcoming African Union Summit, where French diplomats are expected to propose a new framework for joint climate financing and migration management. This summit will provide the first tangible test of whether the “partnership of equals” can move from a rhetorical device to a functional policy.
Do you believe France can truly move past its colonial legacy in Africa, or is the “partnership of equals” simply a new brand for old influence? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
