Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating “undesirable leaders” in Africa, claiming that Paris is pursuing a political comeback after losing ground in several former colonies.
The allegations, made in a statement on Monday, include claims of French involvement in a failed coup in Burkina Faso and attempts to destabilise governments across the Sahel.
The SVR said Macron’s administration is “frantically” seeking ways to restore influence as African governments prioritising sovereignty and distancing themselves from Paris come to power. It alleged that French intelligence had been tasked with preparing plans to remove leaders resistant to French policy, comparing the mindset to Washington’s pursuit of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
According to the Russian service, France’s involvement in the 3 January attempted coup in Burkina Faso “has already been established”, asserting that conspirators intended to assassinate President Ibrahim Traoré. The SVR said Paris expected that Traoré’s removal would return pro-French actors to power in Ouagadougou and weaken Pan-Africanist movements across the region.
France has not responded to the latest accusations.
Despite what it described as a failure in Burkina Faso, the SVR claimed France has shifted its focus to “undesirable countries” in the Sahel-Saharan region. It alleged that Paris is working with local armed groups and receiving assistance from Ukraine, including the supply of drones and instructors.
“The main blow of this gang is directed against Mali,” the statement said, citing attacks on fuel convoys, attempts to blockade cities and violence against civilians that it claimed were intended to create conditions for removing President Assimi Goïta.
The agency also accused France of seeking opportunities to sow instability in the Central African Republic and described Madagascar as “another target”, saying Paris was looking for ways to overturn the government that took office in October 2025 and has pursued closer ties with BRICS.
Moscow framed the accusations as part of a wider pattern, noting that Russia had previously summoned France’s ambassador over what it called an assassination attempt on a Russian official in the Central African Republic - an allegation France dismissed as propaganda. Russian officials have repeatedly accused Paris of fuelling unrest in Africa as France’s influence shrinks and military partnerships with former colonies erode.
Criticism of former colonial power
The SVR concluded that France had moved towards “direct support of terrorists of various stripes”, arguing that this underlined what it called the “political bankruptcy” of Macron’s approach and reinforced perceptions of France in Africa as a former colonial power impeding development.
France’s post-colonial influence in Africa has been steadily eroding 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 what became known as Françafrique, a system critics say entrenched French dominance and enabled Paris to shape local leadership, security policy and access to resources.
But 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 towards alternative partners such as Russia, Türkiye and China. This shift has fuelled Moscow’s narrative that France is attempting to “restore” its old influence through covert means, even as Paris insists it respects African sovereignty.
China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, has met Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, in Islamabad to di...
British police are facing a national backlash over their handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed while d...
International organisations, investors, environmental experts and business representatives gathered in Samarkand for the opening of Eco Expo Central A...
China is sending doctors, medical teams and emergency supplies to help combat a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, joining an international eff...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Yerevan remains committed to normalising relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, expressing confidenc...
China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, has met Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, in Islamabad to discuss the China-facilitated Urumqi Process and regional security concerns.
British police are facing a national backlash over their handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed while dying from stab wounds after his attacker falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist assault.
International organisations, investors, environmental experts and business representatives gathered in Samarkand for the opening of Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, one of the region's largest environmental events focused on green growth, climate resilience and sustainable development.
China is sending doctors, medical teams and emergency supplies to help combat a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, joining an international effort to contain the disease before it spreads further.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
Competing narratives continue to shape perceptions of the war in Ukraine, with Russian leadership suggesting a possible end phase while Ukrainian officials warn of renewed large-scale attacks and ongoing escalation risks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Lebanese President and Israeli Prime Minister on efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon. According to a U.S. official, Washington has proposed a plan aimed at achieving a gradual de-escalation of hostilities.
Dutch police have launched an investigation into the use of force against a pregnant woman at an asylum seekers' centre in Zeist after videos of the incident circulated widely on social media.
When Armenians vote on 7 June, they will be voting in an election shaped by months of political change and a rapidly deepening relationship with the European Union. The result may not only determine who governs Armenia but also the future direction of the country's geopolitical alignment.
British police are facing a national backlash over their handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed while dying from stab wounds after his attacker falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist assault.
China is sending doctors, medical teams and emergency supplies to help combat a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, joining an international effort to contain the disease before it spreads further.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said they struck a cargo ship owned by the “American-Zionist enemy” with a cruise missile after an Iranian freighter was attacked in the Sea of Oman.
Dutch police have launched an investigation into the use of force against a pregnant woman at an asylum seekers' centre in Zeist after videos of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Monday that his government would begin legal proceedings to remove President Tamás Sulyok if he continues to reject calls to resign.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment