by: Sabrin Alajroudi, Department of Strategic Studies and International Relations 26-06-2024

The crisis of the French military presence in the Sahel began in Mali but did not stop there. Burkina Faso followed, giving French forces a month to leave the capital, Ouagadougou. The Élysée had no choice but to comply with Burkina Faso’s national request.

The ruling military council demanded the French forces exit the country, with government spokesperson Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo indicating that the national military would take over the fight against terrorism, following the termination of the 2018 military agreement between the two nations.

The events in Mali echoed in Burkina Faso in late 2022, where demonstrations called for France’s withdrawal due to its failure to combat terrorist activities by Al-Qaeda and ISIS on October 28 and November 19.

Protesters, waving Russian flags, marched towards the French embassy, with some heading towards Kamboinsin in the northern outskirts of Ouagadougou, where 400 French soldiers were stationed as part of the “Sabre” force. These protests resulted in fires set by demonstrators at the French embassy and the French Institute in Bobo-Dioulasso.

These movements in Burkina Faso were driven by widespread popular rejection, centered on limiting French influence, which was seen as self-serving, in contrast to opening the door to Russian forces. This rejection hinged on the failure to counter terrorist groups, forming the main argument for opposing French presence in the Sahel and Sahara regions.

With increasing terrorist activities and growing numbers of civilians joining extremist groups, along with rising casualties, observers concluded that the French presence was no longer necessary and continued presence only served French interests, not the country’s.

 Reassessing African Priorities

Internal dynamics of reevaluating relations with former colonizers vary, but fundamentally, it’s about these nations striving to emerge from the shadow of colonialism that has persisted for countless years.

The era of unilateralism in global relations is shifting towards diversity and multiplicity. The world is increasingly recognizing Africa’s geostrategic importance.

Africans themselves are beginning to realize their potential, exploring their value and resources, navigating the wide margins between Washington, Paris, Rome, Berlin, and, on the other hand, the West, Russia, and China.

Hence, Africa can no longer tolerate the presence of old or new colonial forces on its soil. Even Niger, with its high-level ties to France, cannot accept a new contingent of French soldiers leaving Burkina Faso.

Paris and its Western allies must adopt a new path in their relations, grounded in African pragmatism, moving beyond colonial ties.

 Russia’s Challenge to Diminishing Western Influence

In this context, the expansion of Russian military presence in Africa has been warmly welcomed by African leaders, becoming a source of concern for the West, especially with strong African support for BRICS.

Russia has effectively filled the security vacuum left by former colonial powers (European countries and the United States).

 Strategic and Vital Objectives

Russia aims to be the ideal alternative in African nations, requiring balanced steps to formulate effective strategies that uplift the continent in stark contrast to the colonial approach of Western powers.

This involves “reshaping the geopolitical landscape through alliances with the Global South to establish a more just and balanced global order.”

A significant part of this strategy is Russia leveraging various gaps and failed policies left by Western colonial interventions, through reforms to foster successful cooperation with African nations, thus altering the balance of power through multiple phases.

Russian policies focus on achieving immediate gains and reaching goals quickly without resorting to procrastination. Additionally, they pursue a path of non-interference in the internal affairs of their partners and respect their national sovereignty, making Russia a reliable global power and an attractive partner for many countries.

This approach contrasts sharply with the Western colonial approach, which typically involves long-term partnerships based on promises and goals that often remain unfulfilled, in contrast to Russia’s rapid, effective, and non-intrusive pursuit of mutual interests.

The element of “attractiveness of non-liberal values” is crucial for Russia in forming effective alliances within its foreign policy, reshaping a global order responsive to the aspirations of various parties opposed to harsh Western policies, leading to what is referred to in Russian vision as a new multipolar world order, “a world divided among major powers,” through which Moscow develops effective patterns of cooperation and partnership with African nations.

 A Blow to Western Policy Fueled by Anti-Western Sentiment

It is evident that Western policies have failed, driven by liberal strategies that have relentlessly undermined national sovereignty in countries that initially allowed intervention, not necessarily by choice but due to a series of pressures and conditions imposed on African nations. This allowed colonial powers to infiltrate, based on promises of ensuring these nations’ security and fostering economic growth.

Given that liberal policies rely on long-term partnerships to maximize interests over extended periods, they have led to the rise of a populist anti-Western movement with organic roots.

While other external factors exist, they are not the primary contributors to this popular movement compared to the numerous historical and contemporary grievances left by colonial powers. Despite recent Western interventions cloaked in a set of ostensible principles, such as ensuring social and economic rights and promoting investment, these efforts failed to continue convincing stakeholders. For instance, they could not combat terrorist groups effectively over two decades.

The West’s greatest failure lies in its expectation that African nations would not question the benefits of their presence in the region. This reflects a lack of strategic vision in developing intervention policies and assessing their shortcomings. For decades, the West has relied solely on military approaches and security arrangements in the Sahel and Sahara regions, neglecting economic and social aspects. This left relationships with authorities in various African countries “hollow,” contributing to popular movements against them at the first opportunity.

Currently, the West sees its decline in Africa, where Russian policies align with the visions and expectations of African nations. Consequently, Russia has gradually diminished Western presence in its traditional strongholds, successfully establishing itself along major geographic corridors from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Russia has also strengthened ties with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, who have withdrawn from the Western-backed ECOWAS.

Analysts suggest that the robust cooperation and partnership between Russia and African nations offer significant benefits to both parties. Especially as Russia’s anti-liberal policies prove highly effective in achieving mutual interests, African countries see them as a refuge and an effective alternative to Western dominance.