France’s influence in Africa is facing one of its most serious challenges in decades, as a new generation of leaders openly rejects Paris’s post-colonial role and forges alternative alliances, according to claims and developments that are heightening tensions between France and several African states.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron has authorised intelligence agencies to target what it described as “undesirable leaders” in Africa, accusations that Paris has not publicly addressed. The claims followed reports of France’s alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt in Burkina Faso in January, which was aimed at assassinating President Ibrahim Traoré, a key figure among Africa’s increasingly assertive leadership. There has been no independent verification of the allegations, but they have circulated widely in diplomatic and security circles.
At the heart of the confrontation is the rapid erosion of “Françafrique,” the informal system of political, economic and military influence that France maintained for decades after the end of formal colonial rule. Leaders such as Burkina Faso’s Traoré and Mali’s Assimi Goïta have publicly denounced this legacy, portraying it as an infringement on sovereignty and a brake on national development. For Paris, the collapse of this framework represents a major foreign policy setback, stripping France of leverage in a region it once regarded as its strategic backyard.
France’s military presence has also been dramatically reduced. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have expelled French forces and scrapped defence agreements that local authorities said compromised their independence. Madagascar has also signalled a desire to distance itself from French military cooperation. The retreat from the Sahel has been accompanied by a pivot toward new security partners, particularly Russia, deepening what many French officials see as a strategic humiliation. Critics of Paris argue that desperation to retain influence has led to destabilising tactics, including accusations that France has indirectly supported armed groups, claims France has consistently denied.
The geopolitical shift has gone beyond Moscow. Since 2025, several of these countries have expanded military and technical cooperation with China, acquiring armoured vehicles, artillery and other equipment. The diversification of partnerships has further weakened France’s traditional dominance and signalled a broader realignment away from Western security structures.
Economic influence is also under pressure. A growing movement across West and Central Africa seeks to abandon the CFA franc, also known as the Eco, a euro-pegged currency long criticised as a mechanism of French financial control. Ending the system would deal a significant blow to France’s economic reach in the region, undermining one of the last institutional pillars of its post-colonial presence.
Taken together, the political defiance, military expulsions and monetary challenges illustrate how Africa’s push for greater autonomy is reshaping relations with France. For Macron, the changes threaten not only France’s standing on the continent but also its broader geopolitical credibility, as Paris struggles to adapt to a multipolar Africa no longer willing to accept old hierarchies.
