Macron appoints special rep for African countries where Paris still has military bases

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed former Secretary of State Jean-Marie Bockel as his special envoy for African countries where France still has military bases, with the exception of Djibouti, according to RFI radio, Report informs referring to TASS.

According to the letter of appointment, the text of which was reviewed by the radio station, Bockel is tasked with “changing the status, format and tasks of French bases in Africa.” This is due to Macron’s previously announced course of changing Paris’s military strategy on the continent.

The radio station notes that France intends to maintain “military support” for Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Gabon, but on “new principles.” Only in Djibouti, where the French base is located next to the US and Chinese bases, will the previous format of work be maintained.