In 2023, Nigeria emerged as France’s top trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, with bilateral trade surpassing $5 billion (€4.73 billion), according to French customs data. This trade is primarily driven by Nigeria’s exports of crude oil and other raw materials, and despite this wealth from oil, Nigeria has faced significant economic challenges, including rising food prices, inflation, and widespread insecurity and corruption. To strengthen the trading ties with Nigeria, French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, 27th November 2024, invited President Bola Tinubu to France for bilateral discussions on trade, investments, and stronger diplomatic relationships.
For France, Tinubu’s visit comes when the country is working to strengthen its ties with African nations amidst growing geopolitical competition, particularly from China and Russia. Since taking office in 2017, President Macron has sought to renew France’s relationship with Africa. However, in recent years, France has faced setbacks following military coups in its former colonies of Niger, Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso, where new military regimes are slowly relinquishing ties with Paris and aligning more closely with Russia.
On November 29, 2024, Chad announced its decision to terminate its defense cooperation agreement with France, marking a significant shift in Europe’s security role in Africa. Hours earlier, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had declared his intention to expel French troops from Senegal, challenging France’s military presence on the continent. His pointed remark—“would France tolerate Senegalese tanks and soldiers in its country?”—echoed the growing sentiment across Africa that Western military forces, once considered vital, are now seen as outdated symbols of foreign dominance, and intimidation.
These developments signal a dramatic shift in the power dynamics of West Africa. For decades, French military bases across Africa were seen as pillars of strategic partnerships, offering French influence. With 2,300 troops stationed in Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Chad, and Senegal, and an additional 1,500 in Djibouti, France has long relied on these agreements to maintain its geopolitical standing. However, these partnerships are now facing increased scrutiny and objection from African leaders and citizens alike.
Senegal’s pivot is no surprise. The ruling Patriots of Senegal Party (PASTEF), energized by pan-African sentiment, has long advocated for reducing foreign influence. With growing public support, they now have the political power to push for greater sovereignty. Chad’s decision, however, is shocking. Historically, a close ally of France, Chad’s relationship with Paris seemed unshakeable, especially under the late Idriss Déby Itno, whose security policies aligned with French interests. Yet, with Mahamat Idriss Déby now in power, Chad has recalibrated its foreign policy, seeking new security partnerships with countries like Türkiye, the UAE, and even Russia. This shift signals Chad’s ambition to assert greater autonomy on the world stage.
This broader trend of rethinking Africa’s postcolonial relationships with the Global North is reshaping the continent’s diplomatic and economic future. Military bases, once seen as symbols of partnership and security, are increasingly viewed as relics of colonialism and imperialism. Social movements and political leaders are amplifying calls for sovereignty, advocating for a multilateral approach to global diplomacy.
In response, France is scrambling to adapt. A report by Macron’s special envoy for Africa, commissioned by the Élysée, was rumored to advocate for “renewed and co-constructed” partnerships emphasizing mutual respect and greater African agency. Discussions about joint military bases with European allies and the United States have surfaced, but with Chad and Senegal’s recent rejections, it appears that France’s efforts may be too little, too late. France now faces the challenge of shifting from a position of presumed dominance to one of genuine partnership. Efforts to build ties with Anglophone Africa, particularly through President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Paris, reflect this shift, but France’s colonial legacy in the region remains a significant obstacle.
In a joint opinion piece published in Newsweek, Tinubu and Macron professed the relationship between their nations as “a partnership between equals.” President Tinubu’s visit is undoubtedly set to foster deeper economic cooperation, as evidenced by the flurry of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Nigeria and France, marking a significant turning point in their efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties. One of the most pivotal MoUs focuses on Nigeria’s largely untapped solid minerals sector, long neglected and left in the hands of illegal operators. Despite ranking second only to crude oil in terms of potential revenue, poor regulation and lack of control have prevented the country from fully capitalizing on its mineral wealth. Publicly known for being exploited by unscrupulous individuals, including private jet owners smuggling these resources abroad, the sector is in dire need of reform. The MoU, signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and France’s Inter-Ministerial Delegate of Critical Ores and Metals, Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, aims to address these issues by focusing on the development of key minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel—critical for advancing clean energy technologies. The partnership will also involve research, training, and student exchanges to promote knowledge transfer.
A key aspect of the agreement is the commitment to sustainable mining practices to reduce the environmental impact of the sector. The MoU also includes co-financed joint extractive projects to diversify and secure critical minerals while supporting energy transition projects. Additionally, it outlines plans to remediate over 2,000 abandoned mining pits in Nigeria, leveraging France’s expertise in sustainable mining. Additionally, a Letter of Intent was signed between Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), Remi Rioux, to support Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This collaboration is expected to provide funding for key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, food security, healthcare, and human capital development. The AFD has committed over €300 million in financial and technical assistance, focusing on energy transition, sustainable agriculture, and the improvement of agro-logistic hubs, with an emphasis on removing fiscal barriers and ensuring efficient project implementation to enhance bilateral trade. The visit which had in delegation Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank, and Tony Elumelu of United Bank for Africa (UBA) saw the expansion of the operations of two of Nigeria’s top banks, UBA and Zenith Bank, in France. This international expansion is expected to elevate their portfolios and strengthen their presence in the global financial market.
Beyond its mineral resources and economy, France stands to gain much more from Nigeria, particularly in non-oil sectors. By 2050, Nigeria is projected to become the world’s third most populous country, cementing its position as an economic, cultural, and continental powerhouse. Take, for example, the music industry. Just as West Coast rap in the U.S. once signaled the rise of Silicon Valley, today, Afrobeats emerging from Lagos, powered by artists like Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and new voices like Rema Ayra Starr, Asake, and Tems sets the global cultural rhythm and signals the rise of “Made in Africa.” Young entrepreneurs are creating innovative solutions in digital technology, energy, and urban development to address Africa’s most pressing challenges. It is home to Nollywood, one of the largest film industries in the world, a thriving fashion scene, and a booming tech sector, with unicorns like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint driving Africa’s digital economy at a pace that is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Europe.
For Nigeria’s economic and cultural potential to truly scale, addressing its pressing security challenges is paramount. To ensure sustainable growth, security and defense cooperation will play a crucial role in supporting the country’s military and law enforcement agencies. This collaboration will provide crucial backing to Nigeria’s army, navy, and police forces, strengthening their capacity to address internal and regional threats.
A significant aspect of this cooperation will focus on French language education for Nigerian military personnel, aligning with President Buhari’s strategy to ensure that, within five years, most officers can effectively communicate with the armed forces of neighboring Francophone countries. This linguistic capacity will enhance Nigeria’s ability to work seamlessly with regional military partners, fostering stronger ties and coordination.
In the maritime domain, the cooperation will include hydrography, diving, cybersecurity, fleet maintenance, and special forces training. This will reinforce France’s support for the Gulf of Guinea’s leading navy, contributing to broader regional stability and maritime security.
On internal security, the cooperation will address airport security and the fight against drug trafficking, strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to safeguard its borders and combat organized crime. France will also increase its support for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), providing intelligence and operational assistance in the fight against Boko Haram, with operations based out of N’Djamena.
Nigeria’s partnership with France holds a significant potential to influence other African nations and reinforce France’s diplomatic efforts on the continent. As Africa’s most populous country and an economic powerhouse, Nigeria serves as a regional leader whose decisions often set trends for other nations in sub-Saharan Africa. France, through diplomatic and economic cooperation with Nigeria, can leverage its relationship to strengthen its ties with other African states, particularly in areas of security, trade, and cultural diplomacy.
Nigeria’s involvement in key African organizations, like the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), positions it as an influential voice in shaping pan-African policies. By aligning with France, Nigeria can act as a bridge for France to engage more deeply with other African countries, particularly in West Africa, where France has a historical presence. There are hopes for France to court East Africa at the 2026 Africa-France Summit, where France sees opportunities in countries like Kenya and Zambia.
President Tinubu’s visit to France comes at a crucial moment, as his administration faces drowning economic challenges stemming from years of decay and poor governance led by his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) The hope is that all the agreements made during this visit will be fully implemented. Is there a risk of falling short of these ambitious goals? Possibly. But as the sign at the entrance of the Shrine, Fela’s legendary concert hall, reminds us: “No risk, no fun.”
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