The Western part of Africa has had a tumultuous past and continues to have a tumultuous present. Riddled with corruption, and rising Islamic extremism, the region, often called the Sahel region, sits on a powder keg. 

The status of a former colonizer means that France has always been involved in these countries in some way or the other. This can be attested by the simple fact that most of these countries have French as their official language. 

Countries such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso fall under this region. Apart from France exercising some influence on this region, certain events have also made France get involved more. 

According to a study by Goxho (2021), France's attention was drawn to the Sahel region upon receiving reports of the execution of a French aid worker by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). This execution escalated France's military intervention in its former colonies in the strategic Sahel region of Western Africa. The French aid worker was kidnapped while working for a children's charity in Niger and was executed by Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in retaliation for a joint Franco-Mauritanian raid on an AQIM camp in northern Mali.

This might have been an anecdotal instance, but it would not warrant a country to get involved militarily. But France still did. Why did it do so? Well to answer that we have to go back a few years. 

Historical context; Why does France care? 

"One reason why the Sahel region is of geopolitical importance for France can be traced back to the 1973 oil shock, which saw a dramatic increase in oil prices after an OPEC embargo" (Hamann, 2017). Ever since the dramatic increase in oil prices, France decided to move toward nuclear energy. The Sahel region holds substantial amounts of Uranium. France receives one-third of its Uranium supply from two mines in Niger. In addition to that, Mali is suspected of containing significant amounts of Uranium as well. Therefore, the Sahel region is of great geopolitical importance for France and its energy security.

Additionally, one other reason why the Sahel region is of geopolitical importance to France is that the area is vital in carrying out a counterterrorist operation. "Due to its sheer scale, inaccessibility and geopolitical complexity, the Sahel provides optimal conditions that enable armed terrorist groups to prosper" (Richards, 2019). Therefore, it is no surprise that the region has long served as an essential theatre for international counterterrorism operations.

France's intervention is driven by geopolitics and a historical context

According to Shurkin (2021), France's intervention in the Sahel region is positively remarkable. The efforts of the France troops managed to overcome substantial obstacles of distance, climate, and lack of infrastructure to achieve impressive success against armed groups across the Sahel region. Along with other international partners, France is engaged in the Sahel to stop the area from becoming a long-term hotbed of instability for terrorist groups and of various forms of trafficking in drugs, weapons or people, or migrant smuggling, for example, which could also threaten its security. These peace-building efforts by France's intervention in the region resulted in peace and political stability in the Sahel countries.

Despite the France intervention in the Sahel drawing its positive effect on political stability and counterterrorism, there are also adverse effects experienced due to the France intervention. "Despite these military successes, however, Operation Barkhane did more harm than good, since it provided crucial support to the repressive governments that were at the heart of the Sahel's problems" (Goxho, 2021). A lighter French footprint focused on local peace-building efforts would cost less and effectively bring absolute stability to the region.

In conclusion, the situation in West Africa remains precarious. Rampant poverty, corruption and illiteracy means that it is a fertile ground for extremism to breed. Apart from France intervening in pursuit of its national interest, their implicit support for regressive governments is worrying. A comprehensive development of this region is the need of the hour. 

Goxho, D. (2021). Remote Warfare in the Sahel and a Role for the European Union. 

Remote Warfare in the Sahel and a Role for the European Union (e-ir.info)

Hamann, N. (2017). The G5 Sahel Joint Force: Fighting terrorism or reassuring French energy interests? 

The G5 Sahel Joint Force: Fighting terrorism or reassuring French energy interests? – Qutnyti (wordpress.com)

Richards, H. (2019). Assessment of French Intervention in the Sahel Region, 2013-2019.

Shurkin, M. (2021). France's War in the Sahel and the Evolution of Counter-Insurgency Doctrine. 

France's War in the Sahel and the Evolution of Counter-Insurgency Doctrine - Texas National Security Review (tnsr.org)

The future of West Africa; Role of France and Rising Extremism

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