Sommet «Africa Forward» : Aïssata Tall Sall décrypte les nouveaux rapports entre la France et l’Afrique
On the sidelines of the Africa-France summit in Nairobi, Aissata Tall Sall offered a frank analysis on RFI of the ongoing geopolitical shifts between France and West Africa. Between the rise of sovereignty in the Sahel, the withdrawal of French military bases, the Russian advance in Mali, and Senegal's diplomatic repositioning, the former Senegalese foreign minister believes that a new era in African international relations is dawning.
For Aïssata Tall Sall, the decline of French influence in several West African countries reflects a profound geopolitical realignment. According to her, France "is no longer what it was a few years ago in Africa," particularly in its former colonies. She cites the emergence of new sovereignist powers within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), composed of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as an African public opinion that has become more demanding and critical of Paris.
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs also believes that France itself is revising its African strategy, in a context where African states are now favoring an open diplomacy based on the principle of "neither exclusivity nor exclusion." This approach, she argues, relies on multilateral partnerships guided primarily by the interests of African countries.
Despite this loss of influence, Aïssata Tall Sall believes that France can still play a major role in Africa, particularly on issues of security, climate, health, and financing for African economies. She calls on Paris to become a "partnership catalyst" capable of influencing major international institutions such as the OECD and the G7 to ease certain financial regulations that hinder African economies.
Regarding security in the Sahel, the former Senegalese foreign minister believes that the presence of foreign military bases is no longer an appropriate response. For her, priority must now be given to prevention, intelligence gathering, and discreet but effective cooperation between states. Bordering Mali, she says, West Africa faces persistent security challenges that require a new approach.
When asked about Russia's growing influence in Africa, Aïssata Tall Sall stated that she was not surprised by this trend. She recounted observing, at the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg, which she attended with former President Macky Sall, a "multifaceted" Russian influence strategy encompassing security, economics, and even religion.
She specifically mentions Patriarch Kirill's speech to African leaders and the gradual establishment of Orthodox churches across the continent. According to her, this Russian presence now extends far beyond the military sphere.
However, Aïssata Tall Sall points out that the historical ties between Francophone Africa and the West remain important, particularly regarding democratic values and human rights. She believes this close relationship explains President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's announced participation in the Nairobi summit, despite his pro-nationalist rhetoric.
When questioned about the Russian presence in Mali, the former minister declined to make a definitive judgment, stating that it was up to the Malian authorities to assess this cooperation. She did, however, observe that jihadist groups remain particularly active in the country despite Russian support.
For Aïssata Tall Sall, Mali "still needs the support of many countries" in order to deal with insecurity that continues to gain ground in the Sahel sub-region.
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