In light of last week's Mail & Guardian article, "SA, France battle for Africa", France wishes to emphasise a few facts about its relationship with Africa, and the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR).
France's involvement in Africa is based on a common history, including its dark passages, and on a joint future. In Dakar last October, in a speech to Senegal's Parliament, French President François Hollande said: "I want to tell you [of] my will to renew the relation between Africa and France. The days of 'Françafrique' are over. There is France and there is Africa. There is the partnership between France and Africa, with relations based on respect, clarity and solidarity."
He reiterated this when he received African Union chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in November.
The framework for our military presence in CAR is twofold:
- In 2008 the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas) accepted France's continued support for the multinational African peacekeeping force, Fomac.
- A bilateral defence partnership, signed in April 2010, was approved by the French Parliament, then ratified and made public in September 2011. It details the support provided to Fomac.
France's contribution to stability in the CAR (roughly 250 personnel) takes place under the auspices of Eccas. It was reinforced last month – with about 300 personnel – in order to provide, if necessary, assistance to the French and, where possible, international civilian community in Bangui. As of today, just over 550 French soldiers are in Bangui.
The force is stationed at the airport in order to secure the facility and allow it to function, providing the assurance that this gateway is accessible to all except illegal armed groups. The airport is under CAR civilian air control. Any state or entity, public or private, has access to it.
Supported efforts
On December 27 2012, in the face of the rapidly worsening situation in the CAR, President Hollande said: "France is not in [the] CAR to protect a regime. It will not take part in the crisis in this country. France is by no means there to intervene in the domestic affairs of a country. Those days are over."
France supported the efforts of Eccas and the Libreville pact of January 11. It urged all parties, including then president François Bozizé, to implement it.
No entity – CAR officials, regional organisations, the international community, or rebel groups – could misinterpret our intention: the format, positioning and equipment of French troops were adapted to the mission under Fomac, and to help its citizens (about 1250 in the CAR). Hence French troops were not drawn into the events of March 22 to 23, when the rebels overran the capital.
On March 25 France condemned the coup. A day later the ministry of foreign affairs said that the Libreville agreement must provide the framework for a political transition. France also supports the agreements reached by Eccas and the AU in Ndjamena earlier this month.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) used the airport, and was able to reinforce its military presence in the CAR without interference by France in its supply chain, even during the fighting.
Confrontations
Since January, French and South African militaries have discussed the situation. It was confirmed that Bangui airport was under CAR civilian control and that the SANDF had free access to it. At this point, contact details of French military commanders on the ground were provided so that the SANDF could exchange information with the French if it so wished.
The French and South African militaries were in contact when the Seleka rebels advanced on Bangui. On March 21 and 22 the French confirmed to their South African counterparts their political position of non-interference and that French troops would secure the airport, keeping it accessible to anyone.
When confrontations between the SANDF and rebels occurred, President Hollande called President Jacob Zuma twice to exchange information. He conveyed France's sorrow at the news of South Africa's losses in battle.
After the rebels took control of the country French troops at the airport provided all possible support to SANDF forces – shelter, protection, food and first aid – until South Africa's support personnel landed. French troops paid tribute to the fallen soldiers on their embarkation for home, and the South African military comrades present expressed their appreciation for this.
Since the toppling of the Bozizé regime, French forces patrolling the streets of Bangui to help keep the French and international community safe were also able to transfer South African citizens to the airport.
Elisabeth Barbier is the French ambassador-designate to South Africa