La Françafrique est-elle chose du passé? La joute française au Sahel: implications et désillusions

Abstract

The French army is entrenching itself in the sahel region since 2014, claiming a near victory over the multitude of armed groups operating in the region. The french implication relies heavily on special operation units waging a movement war against the so-called "terror groups". But what are the true natures of those groups? Such armed groups are actually far from being the archetype of international Jihadist organisations that the french government claims they are fighting. Paris Meanwhile, by fighting in those countries is actually entrenching itself geographically for its own geopolitical gains rather than pursuing humanistic goals. By supporting unrepresentative governments and relying on heavy military presence in the Sahel, the French governemnt is actually helping recruitment among those armed groups and is uncontiously helping their creations.