This reshuffle, described as a “game of chairs” by Le Monde, comes after “the succession of coups in the Sahel and the decline of French influence in the region” and marks, according to the newspaper, the desire “to open a new chapter.” Christophe Bigot, recognized for his competence but also criticized for his management of the crisis, did not inform his teams of his replacement.
This summer, France also experienced failure in Niger with General Abdourahamane Tiani’s military coup, the third Sahel country to fall into the hands of soldiers hostile to the French presence. Emmanuel Macron has tightened his tone but the junta has asked for the departure of the French ambassador and soldiers.
Another sign of the crisis, the post of advisor for Africa at the Elysée remained vacant for a long time before Jérémie Robert, Jean-Yves Le Drian’s former advisor for African affairs, agreed to take on the role. According to Le Monde, these changes aim to “rebuild a political line in Africa” in a difficult regional context.
2023-12-29 00:07:40
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