September 12, 2024
The Fall of French Influence and the Expansion of American Power in Africa
For over six decades, France maintained control over its former African colonies through a combination of military, economic, and political means. This dominance served French interests across the continent but has recently crumbled, leading to significant geopolitical shifts. While France’s influence dwindles, a new power—America—is stepping in to fill the void. Through strategic alliances, support for military coups, and intervention under the guise of anti-terrorism efforts, the United States has become a key player in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region.
The Colonial Legacy of French Control in Africa
France’s control over its former colonies was deeply embedded in systems of informal alliances and economic ties. By implementing mechanisms such as the “Franc zone,” France maintained significant control over African economies, even after formal independence. The Franc zone required African nations to deposit foreign reserves in French banks, ensuring France’s influence over their economic policies. This system, designed to guarantee resource flow to France, enriched a select few while impoverishing the majority. Despite these efforts, American interest in the region grew, and Washington began using diplomatic and economic tools to erode French dominance.
America’s Role in African Affairs
America’s involvement in Africa has steadily increased, particularly in the Sahel region, which includes countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The U.S. has strategically positioned itself as an ally in the fight against terrorism, using this as a pretext to expand its influence. As early as 2020, the U.S. State Department appointed a special envoy for the Sahel to address the growing instability in the region. This move was a direct response to the deteriorating security situation caused by various fighting forces, but it also allowed the U.S. to insert itself into African politics at the expense of French influence.
“The United States calls on Burkina Faso’s armed forces to immediately release President Kabore and respect Burkina Faso’s constitution and civilian leadership,” a State Department spokesperson remarked after a 2022 coup in Burkina Faso. This statement emphasized the U.S.’s role in promoting stability, while quietly backing movements that shifted the political landscape away from France.
Military Engagement and Growing American Influence
French military involvement in Africa, particularly in the Sahel, was a cornerstone of its influence. France launched operations like Serval and Burkhane to combat Islamist insurgencies. However, local populations began to resist, viewing the French military presence as an extension of colonial exploitation. Military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger resulted in the removal of pro-French governments and the rise of regimes more aligned with American interests.
One of the most notable coups occurred in Burkina Faso in 2022, where the French-backed President Roch Kabore was overthrown. Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henry Sandaogo Damiba, the coup leader, had close ties to France, having received military training in Paris. However, despite his French background, there were significant signs that the U.S. was maneuvering behind the scenes. The U.S. had trained several key figures in Burkina Faso’s military, and Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba himself had attended multiple U.S.-sponsored military programs between 2010 and 2020.
In the wake of the coup, the U.S. publicly called for the immediate release of Kabore, but it is clear that the regime change aligned with American interests. “Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba participated in many U.S. military courses and exercises,” said AFRICOM spokesperson Kelly Cahalan, acknowledging the close relationship between the U.S. and the new leadership.
The U.S.-Backed Alliance of Sahel States
The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), composed of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, is a significant geopolitical shift that undermines French influence. The AES represents a collective military and political union aimed at countering external threats, particularly from organizations influenced by France, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While the AES initially emerged as a regional defense force, it quickly became a vehicle for expanding American influence in West Africa. The U.S. has supported these nations under the banner of counter-terrorism, ensuring they remain outside the sphere of French influence.
In a parallel move, these countries withdrew from French-backed organizations, such as the G5 Sahel task force and ECOWAS. “The decision is sovereign,” read a statement from the governments of Burkina Faso and Niger in late 2023, referencing their withdrawal from G5 Sahel. This sovereignty, however, is closely aligned with American strategic interests, as the U.S. has increasingly stepped in as the key military and economic partner.
America’s Strategic Goals in the Sahel
America’s interest in the Sahel extends beyond counter-terrorism; it is part of a broader strategy to control valuable resources and expand its geopolitical reach in Africa. The Sahel region is rich in natural resources, including gold, uranium, and oil, all of which are critical to American economic and security interests. As the French influence recedes, American-backed governments have taken control of these resources, often nationalizing industries previously managed by French corporations. For instance, Niger’s uranium mines, essential for both nuclear energy and defense purposes, are now increasingly under local control, with American companies eyeing opportunities.
The overthrow of French-backed regimes and the rise of U.S.-aligned governments is no coincidence. By supporting coups and military leaders sympathetic to American interests, the U.S. has effectively removed France from its former colonial stronghold. In Burkina Faso, for example, the coup leaders, despite having ties to France, were trained by the U.S. and leaned toward American interests once in power.
A statement by AFRICOM confirmed these ties: “Military seizures of power are inconsistent with U.S. military training and education,” yet, ironically, those trained by the U.S. were key players in these regime changes. The U.S. influence is apparent, not only in military training but also in the economic and political restructuring of these countries.
The Geopolitical Consequences of French Decline
The collapse of French influence has left a vacuum in Africa that the U.S. has quickly moved to fill. The American-backed Alliance of Sahel States is a direct challenge to traditional African organizations, such as the African Union and ECOWAS, which have long operated under European influence. The new alliances formed by the AES and their growing ties to the U.S. reflect a broader realignment in global power dynamics.
The U.S. is not alone in its interest in Africa. Russia and China have also increased their presence, seeking to capitalize on the shifting geopolitical landscape. However, the U.S. has positioned itself as the dominant external power in West Africa, leveraging its military, economic, and diplomatic resources to outmaneuver both France and other global players.
The New Power Dynamic: U.S. vs. France
The unraveling of French control in the Sahel and the rise of American-backed governments represent a fundamental shift in Africa’s geopolitical landscape. While France once dominated the region through neocolonial systems of control, America has successfully inserted itself by backing military coups, promoting counter-terrorism operations, and providing economic and military support to emerging leaders.
As America solidifies its role in the region, it increasingly controls the narrative and direction of political and economic developments in the Sahel. The French president’s acknowledgment that relations with Africa have become “tired” speaks volumes about France’s waning power. Meanwhile, U.S. influence grows through partnerships with military leaders and governments that serve American interests, particularly in securing access to Africa’s valuable resources.
