Cheikh Tourad Traoré

As part of the debate on relations between West Africa and Europe, WATHI met with Cheikh Tourad Traoré, International Relations Specialist whose research focuses on benchmarking political strategies to prevent state fragility in the western Africa region. In this article, he focused on the so-called Anti-French sentiment and tried, throughout the post, to share strategic actions that could help the European Union to cope with it.

The long-standing relationship between Europe and Africa includes unpleasant parts of which memories still generate resentments among the new generation of Africans. Nevertheless, for geopolitical and realistic reasons, it is obvious that Europe and Africa need to enhance their relations to foster livelihoods for their peoples, by ensuring the nexus security-peace-development.

The European Union’s Comprehensive Approach to development issues in the Sahel can be perceived as a reflection of this necessity. The four pillars of this strategy consist in: Development, governance, internal conflict management; Preventing and combating violent extremism and radicalization; Political and diplomatic action; Security and rule of law.

However, the recurrent protests against French military presence in Mali calls for Europe to dedicate a fifth pillar to the communications around its partnership with Africa.

Dedicating a fifth pillar to the communications around the win-win partnership between Africa and Europe in Sahel

The European Union should ensure that local communities “admit” the presence of its members’ troops in Africa. Regarding the case of Mali, this can be done, for instance, thanks to a communications strategy on the specificity of this war and the positive outcome of the security partnership between France and Mali. The action of France in Mali should not only be a business of the two states.

Besides the case of Mali, the practice of the European development organizations in Africa should shift from a state-centered to a people-centered strategy. “For decades, Europe has had a very institutional relationship with Africa, from the heads of state in office to well-established companies. In doing so, resentment has taken a certain amount of space,” said President Emmanuel Macron during an interview with The Africa Reporters Benjamin Roger and Marwane Ben Yahmed.

Though, institutions are important barometers that can help assess instability, fragile states’ research and the protests occurring in Mali show that a comprehensive approach integrating media and communications is worth adopting.

The European Union should ensure that local communities “admit” the presence of its members’ troops in Africa. Regarding the case of Mali, this can be done, for instance, thanks to a communications strategy on the specificity of this war and the positive outcome of the security partnership between France and Mali. The action of France in Mali should not only be a business of the two states

In fact, with the development of Information and Communications Technologies we are in times of information democratization, which goes along with the spreading of fake news. Many citizens are eager to be informed about their countries, and internet is the first tool they use for this purpose. That is why the European Union in collaboration with the African Union should dedicate a fifth pillar to communications around the win-win partnership between Africa and Europe in the Sahel, in order to legitimate the security action carried out by France and its allies o behalf of the populations of the Sahel region.

“Information can affect attitudes, and ultimately behavior. It is one of the most important tools we have to shape the battlefield months and years in advance. It is indispensable now for fighting adversaries who employ non-traditional and asymmetric means.”

The protests should not dictate French troops’ withdrawal from Mali

There is currently much confusion related to the presence of European troops in Africa, ranging from assumptions that they are only protecting their national companies’ interests to accusations that they are pursuing a neo-colonialist agenda.

The so-called Anti-French sentiment seems to stem from the absence of effective strategic communication around the presence and activities of French troops in Mali. Speaking to African citizens in their languages about the European Union members’ presence in Africa, and how it has been helping some countries in the Sahel region not to fail under the attacks of the outlaws is what should be done.

The so-called Anti-French sentiment seems to stem from the absence of effective strategic communication around the presence and activities of French troops in Mali

The protests should not dictate French troops’ withdrawal from Mali. This move could ruin all the efforts of France and its allies in the region. A cost-benefit analysis by the European Union and the African Union must precede and guide any withdrawal decision of French troops from Mali.

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Source photo : intellivoire.net