President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that France will end its practice of hosting regular military bases in Africa, during a speech ahead of a tour of African countries.
He specified that France would not close its bases but that they would be “Africanised” and turned into “academies” or bases co-run by French and African armies.
“The bases as they exist now are a heritage from the past,” said Macron, who will visit Gabon, Angola, Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo from Wednesday.
He added that there would be a notable fall in French military personnel but an increase in an effort to provide training and equipment.
Reuters
Macron says France's Africa military bases to be co-run with Africans
Image: Stefano Rellandini/Pool via REUTERS
President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that France will end its practice of hosting regular military bases in Africa, during a speech ahead of a tour of African countries.
He specified that France would not close its bases but that they would be “Africanised” and turned into “academies” or bases co-run by French and African armies.
“The bases as they exist now are a heritage from the past,” said Macron, who will visit Gabon, Angola, Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo from Wednesday.
He added that there would be a notable fall in French military personnel but an increase in an effort to provide training and equipment.
Reuters
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