Africa Up Close

Throughout the Sahel region and especially in Sahelian capitals, anti-French voices are growing louder. Local protest movements are criticizing France’s policies in the Sahel and criticizing the dependence of past or present Sahelian leaders on France. Movements such as the M5-RFP in Mali, COPA/BF in Burkina Faso, Tournons La Page in Niger, and Wakit Tama in Chad have all had anti-French messages as part of their wider political platforms. Some anti-French sentiment can be linked to Russian disinformation. Yet many ordinary citizens in the Sahel, as well as many serious politicians and intellectuals in the region, have powerful criticisms of France. Listening to their criticisms reveals the depth of Sahelians’ frustrations with endemic insecurity (which France did not cause, but which France has not reversed) and with politicians perceived as too deferential to France.

Nigeria is scheduled to hold national elections on March 28 and state elections on April 11. The elections have occasioned intense competition and equally intense uncertainty. Originally scheduled for February 14 and 28, the vote was postponed due to security forces’ concerns about the northeast, where the violent group Boko Haram (“Western education is forbidden by Islam”) primarily operates.