The African continent over time had witnessed a concerning rise in the number of foreign military bases in the continent, raising alarm bells within the people of Africa, and even the African Union Peace and Security Council. In 2016, the Peace and Security Council urged African nations to exercise caution in their dealings with foreign powers, highlighting the potential risks of hosting these foreign military forces. At the time, approximately 13 African countries had foreign military bases, with the United States and France leading the pack in terms of the number of installations. France maintained around 7,750 military personnel spread across the continent, while the United States had an even larger presence, with 34 known outposts in the northern, western, and horn regions of Africa. Let’s not be fooled, these foreign militaries are primarily focused on safeguarding their own interests, supporting friendly African regimes, projecting their influence amidst rising global power competition. However, a significant shift has occurred since 2022, with several African countries now rejecting the presence of foreign military bases. This shift has led to the withdrawal of foreign troops from some countries. Notably, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have all expelled French troops, significantly reducing France's military presence in the Sahel region. More recently, Niger has also expelled U.S. forces, and Chad is hinting at following suit. This changing landscape reflects a growing desire among African nations to assert their sovereignty and control over their own security and affairs, rather than relying on foreign intervention. Before examining the reasons behind this and what the future holds for Africa, let's take a closer look at some African countries that still maintain a significant presence of foreign troops and explore the impacts this has had on their nations.
