Abdullah Al-Haqim 
The French entered the African continent centuries ago in search of new markets, and their ships were leaving it loaded with gold, slaves and gum Arabic. They spread their language, culture and religion, and they dominated decades on the African elite.
Africa and France have been associated with a long history of colonialism and beyond, until the two parties thought that their fate is common, but this relationship passed – and still passes – with sharp fluctuations, the most prominent of which may be today the gradual French withdrawal from the continent, which reflects an increasing desire for African countries to restore their full sovereignty.
The French have lost their traditional influence in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, and here are the French forces withdraw from Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, and they are one of the most important strongholds of French influence in West Africa. In Abidjan, Ivorian soldiers raised on February 20 their country’s flag over a military base that remained under French control for decades. President Hassan Wattara described the withdrawal as a step towards strengthening independence, stressing that the Ivorian army is able to protect its lands without the need for a foreign military presence, but this symbolic moment was not without contradictions; Many Ivorians remember that Wattara himself would not have become president had it not been for the French military intervention 15 years ago, when the French overthrew his opponent, Laurent Gabago.
While some saw in the withdrawal a national victory, others asked about the ability of the local forces to assume the responsibility of security, especially in light of the increasing regional security threats. In Senegal, the capital, Dakar, witnessed a similar scene. On March 7, France began handing over its military bases to the Senegalese authorities in implementation of President Pasero Dewmay Fei, who stressed that Senegal should be entirely dependent on itself.
On the Senegalese street, opinions were divided; Some considered that the move was very late, while others expressed their concern for its repercussions on stability, especially with the increasing danger of “Wagner” on the border with Mali, and the spread of terrorist organizations in the region. The question remains here is the time for the right time to give Senegal to give up its historical military ally?
Despite all these challenges, the exit of French forces from Africa reflects a clear popular desire. This is because the increasing popular hostility towards France on the continent is tangible, as Paris is accused of protecting failed regimes and looting wealth. The African peoples are convinced that any scenario after the departure of France will not be worse than the current situation. But the biggest question remains: What will France do?
France knows Africa more than any other world power, and therefore the military withdrawal is not only a military decision, but is part of a new strategy. This may be explained as a clear decline in French influence, but another analysis believes that it is placed in a new strategy.
French armies Minister Sebastian Lucurno announced that France will rely on “request for support” instead of permanent military presence. According to this model, Paris will replace the military bases charged with smaller and more flexible units to support its allies and intervene when needed. This change states what happened in the 1950s, when France exhausted from World War II, and its colonies were granted independence while maintaining influence through military and economic agreements.
The problem today is not in the idea, but in who will implement it? In the fifties, France was led by professional politicians such as Charles de Gaulle, but today it suffers from a crisis in the political elite capable of dealing with a world that changes quickly. On the other hand, these transformations open the door to other powers to fill the void. Russia has strengthened its presence in Africa through military cooperation agreements, while China expands its infrastructure investments. New forces such as Turkey, India and Brazil also emerge, which re -asks another pivotal question: Are we in front of a continent that takes its decisions in its hands, or we are simply witnessing the replacement of foreign influence with another? The end of internal differences and the construction of regional blocs capable of confronting external ambitions will determine the fate of the continent in the coming years; Either Africa gets up with its unity and its own power, or it turns into a new square for the conflict of the world powers.
