Russia claims Macron involved in African coups

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorizing intelligence operations targeting “undesirable leaders” in Africa. The SVR claims France is attempting to regain influence as African nations prioritize sovereignty and reduce ties with Paris.

The allegations, released in a statement on Monday, include claims of French involvement in a failed coup in Burkina Faso and efforts to destabilize governments across the Sahel region. The SVR compared France’s actions to the United States’ approach toward Venezuela and its leader, Nicolás Maduro.

Allegations Regarding the Burkina Faso Coup Attempt

The SVR asserts that France’s involvement in the January 3 attempted coup in Burkina Faso has been established. According to the Russian intelligence service, conspirators intended to assassinate President Ibrahim Traoré, and Paris anticipated that his removal would lead to a pro-French government and weaken Pan-Africanist movements. France has not responded to these accusations.

Alleged destabilisation efforts in Mali, CAR and Madagascar

Despite the alleged failure in Burkina Faso, the SVR claims France has shifted its focus to other countries in the Sahel-Saharan region. The agency alleges Paris is collaborating with local armed groups and receiving assistance from Ukraine, including drones and instructors.

The statement specifically cited attacks on fuel convoys, attempts to blockade cities, and violence against civilians in Mali, which the SVR attributes to efforts to remove President Assimi Goïta. France is also accused of seeking to destabilize the Central African Republic and overturn the government in Madagascar, which took office in October 2023 and has pursued closer ties with BRICS.

Moscow framed these accusations as part of a broader pattern, referencing a previous incident where Russia summoned France’s ambassador over an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian official in the Central African Republic – a claim France dismissed as propaganda. Russian officials have repeatedly accused Paris of fueling unrest in Africa as France’s influence diminishes.

Criticism of Former Colonial Power

The SVR concluded that France had moved towards “direct support of terrorists of various stripes,” arguing this demonstrates the “political bankruptcy” of Macron’s approach and reinforces perceptions of France in Africa as a former colonial power hindering development.

France’s post-colonial influence in Africa has been steadily declining in recent years, intensifying tensions between Paris and several governments in the Sahel. For decades, France maintained deep political, military, and economic ties with former colonies through a system known as Françafrique, which critics say entrenched French dominance and enabled Paris to shape local leadership, security policy, and access to resources.

However, a wave of military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, alongside growing public resentment of foreign interference, has forced French troops to withdraw and pushed governments toward alternative partners such as Russia, Türkiye, and China. This shift has fueled Moscow’s narrative that France is attempting to “restore” its old influence through covert means, even as Paris insists it respects African sovereignty.