By Pramod Sedhain.
French Military Intervention in Africa: Moral responsibility
After successful French military operation against extremists Islamist in Mali’s this year, the former French colonies – Central African Republic (CAR) sought another humanitarian intervention from France. However, France refused to intervene and sought diplomatic, political and peace negotiation options. The rich natural resources landlocked CAR problem worsened. France tried to intervention within the legal and moral framework of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU). Christian Majority CAR citizens faced massive sectarian violence, murder, rape, anarchy and impunity. The rule of law was absent since the crisis began and they eventually sought French humanitarian intervention.
France’s Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius was given a warm welcome by the locals and cheered for French help. They displayed banners that read: “Let’s make up with the mother that feeds us! President Hollande, we want your help!”. The 4.6 million population and 620,000 square kilometers country that plunged into anarchy by a coup five months ago, could become a haven for Islamist extremist groups and Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. In March, the rebel groups known as Seleka came together to overthrow the long-time President Francois Bozize.
This poorest country is currently ruled by former rebel leader Michel Djotodia – the first Muslim to run the country. He has vowed to stand down once elections are held at the start of 2015. According to UN, about 1.6 million people are in dire need of food, protection, healthcare, water, shelter and other assistance. More than 206,000 people are displaced within the country, with many hiding in the bush. Nearly 60,000 have sought refuge in neighboring states.
The Security Council has described the situation as “a total breakdown of law and order”. The country’s crisis sees a possible split of its borders. Fifty percent of the population of CAR are Christians, 35 percent of the population maintain indigenous beliefs and 15 percent are Islam. The UN estimates that approximately 11 percent of the population aged between 15 and 49 is HIV positive, and only 3 percent of the country has antiretroviral therapy available. The nation is large and divided into several ethnic groups. There are is over 80 ethnic groups. Analysts fear of CAR strategic and geographically at the center and called “arc of insecurity” of Islamist fighters that cuts from Kenya and Somalia in east Africa across to Mauritania in the west.
There are 400 French contingents securing the airport and resource areas. After the U.N. Security Council votes in December on a resolution to strengthen a U.N. mission, it could increase the total French force to between 700 to 1,200. Paris is to seek a U.N. Security Council mandate that would turn the operation into a U.N. peacekeeping force supported by French troops. An African Union force soon to number 2,600 and composed of forces from neighboring states including Chad, Gabon, Congo Republic and Cameroon has deployed as part of the 3,600-strong U.N. mission known by the acronym MISCA. French President Francois Hollande said on Monday: “We thought it necessary to mobilize the AU and the UN Security Council to…[have] a force to help the Central African Republic reach stability”. He said the goal is “to avoid new tragedies.”
France plays a truly responsible guardian role in the post colonial African region. French military is one of the world’s credible, equipped and most sophisticated forces, one well acquainted with operations in Africa. Since the 1960’s, France has responsibly intervened over 50 times in former colonies of the African countries. More than four thousand French military personnel are garrisoned at bases in Senegal, Gabon and Djibouti. And there are still more French troops in Chad, Ivory Coast and the Central African Republic. French post-colonial African military present maintains regional stability, promote democracy, support legitimate governments, supports anti-terrorism and development. French troops across the African continent, risk their life to maintain stability and anti- terrorism effort from western Senegal to the Horn of Africa.
French influence in the African region is the necessity of international security demand and world peace. France need to maintain its military influence in the region until terrorism threat is defeated and regional instability restored. France reserves the right to unilateral action (without other western superpower support) in Africa with international legal framework, which reduce dangerous threat. Several French African Military operation has received regional welcome and massive support.
Nearly half of the French peacekeeping force is deployed in Africa in both military and advisory capacities. France conducts joint maneuvers and peacekeeping training through the Reinforcement of African Peacekeeping Capacities (RECAMP) program. French effective military and diplomatic presence in Africa will help reduce regional conflict. The world must understand and get convinced to accept the French contribution in Africa. Africa remains an important and longstanding French strategic priority region. An African affair is primary importance to French foreign and strategic policy.
France has better understanding of Africa than other world powers. Relations between France and Africa have traditionally been close; people in Africa spread across 31 Francophone countries, most speak French as a first language. French also know the African geographical locality, common linguistic and cultural identities. France has encouraged democracy across the continent and it shows diplomatic capacities, which is cordial in geopolitical scenario. French military size present in the region has been sharply decreased because of its budgetary and strategic change since 1990’s.
The 2013 edition of French white paper on defense and national security mention the preference for operations in which African-led forces are backed by French specialized forces and technology. White paper clearly maintains that France will maintain its presence in African countries and indicate the interventions will still be limited and consistent with the maintenance of international security norms in countries that fall within France’s areas of interest, mainly West and Central Africa. France’s strategy is one of ‘prevention and projection’ (emphasizes the using of smallest force possible, optimizing use of military technology, prioritizing intelligence, and pre-positioning forces in a region to respond quickly to crises), this strategy is implementation of current force deployments in African region . French sophisticated military capabilities are necessary to protect its own interest and providing the support of legitimate government and regional stability urgently as African Country need and demand.
