Disguise of France Unilateral Policy through European Multilateralism in Mali from Operation Serval to Withdrawal of Barkhane Operation

Abstract

On the eve of independence, France signed defense treaties with its former African colonies to maintain its military influence across the continent. Accordingly, it routinely made unilateral interventions as it saw fit for decades. However, in recent years, local communities in Africa are resenting the French military presence on their soil and their paternalistic posture in their affairs which many assimilate to neo-colonialism. As a result, France, still intending to pursue its unilateral interests, changed the format of its intervention for a broader European coloration i.e., multilateralism. It is this shift in policy that this study intends to demonstrate in Mali. The concept of the illegality of military intervention, the Europeanization of French military policy, unilateralism disguised as European multilateralism as well as Africanization will be studied in this article. Based on the resolution of the United Nations made on the Republic of Mali in 2012 it is found that the military intervention is not quite legal. Because the 2085 resolution of the United Nations provided African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA). As well, it was not planned for France to intervene. Although assistance was requested from France, only air support was requested for the Mali militia army. However, both land and air interventions were carried out. Then, in 2014 and 2020, a multilateral military policy began to be followed with European partners on the Barkhane Operation and Task Force Takuba. Takuba. Emmanuel Macron played an important role in the Europeanization of French military policy in Mali and SAHEL.