France’s Minister of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships, Mohamed Souilhi, declared on Friday that security issues in West Africa are no longer France’s responsibility.
Speaking via phone during a press conference from South Africa, where he was attending the G20 Global Development Week, Souilhi responded to a Reuters question about the security risks following the French military withdrawal.
“I’m sorry to say this, but it is no longer our concern,” he stated, affirming that France no longer sees itself as responsible for regional security.
His remarks come just a week after France handed over its largest military base in Senegal, ending nearly 50 years of a major French military presence in West Africa.
This military withdrawal raises serious questions about the region’s security future, especially amid rising conflicts and militant attacks in countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which had partly relied on French support to combat terrorist groups.
Source: Reuters
