Africa: New Strategic Rivalries

There was a major strategic shift in Africa from 2021 to 2023 as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger allied themselves with Russia. This followed on from Russia’s establishment of a presence in the Central African Republic in 2018 and reinforcement of its position in Libya in 2019. To borrow a term from the Cold War, it might be said that Russia is pursuing a "domino strategy" in Africa and that it has several more countries in its sights. As the countries in question are of considerable strategic significance, this situation is particularly alarming for the Western democracies. Therefore, the United States in particular is considering a change in strategy and taking a broader view of the issues at stake, both economic and political. At the same time, the US finds it difficult to move away from a highly security-oriented perspective on the region, especially concerning counterterrorism. Similarly, France is engaged in a difficult but necessary examination of its role in the region. The country is struggling to extricate itself from old political habits and is trying out a new approach.

Researchers and observers, as well as African political leaders, sometimes question readings of Africa as an arena of strategic competition because this tends to render the African dynamics invisible. This is an important point, and it is essential to study the strategies of the African players who are also part of these rivalries. Whether we like it or not, "Cold War 2.0" is currently being played out on the African continent and is primarily affecting African people. These dynamics are central to the current rise in tensions around the world. This series proposes to decipher these dynamics.

Visual series: YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP