French Operation Barkhane A Litmus Test for EU-AU Security Cooperation
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Keywords
Operation Barkhane, France, G5 Sahel, AU-EU Peace and Security Partnership, African Peace and Security Agenda (APSA)
Abstract
The establishment of French Operation Barkhane is pivotal in addressing counterterrorism and the restoration of stability within the Sahel region. This military initiative represents a collective intervention that encompasses both France and the G5 Sahel states, operating through four military bases under French command. Various scholarly analyses perceive this operation as a deviation from France’s traditional military policy in Africa; however, its conduct is indicative of a continued reinforcement of French imperial interests on the continent. This study aligns with existing literature, positing that Operation Barkhane is fundamentally a military intervention shaped by the dynamics of Francafrique policy, which appears to marginalize the EU-AU Peace and Security framework. The French military operation failed to
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