Last February in Ndjamena, the Sahel leaders and the French president expressed satisfaction with the results achieved against the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) in the so-called tri-border zone. Five months later, the mood is no longer quite so optimistic.

Burkina Faso has since been hit by the worst attack on its soil since 2015 and the situation in Mali has barely improved. France, for its part, announced the gradual withdrawal of Operation Barkhane. The idea is to halve the number of French soldiers present in the region within a year and a half.

Emmanuel Macron will meet for the first time since this announcement with the Sahel leaders. Leaders to whom he is expected to clarify the withdrawal timetable and promote the European Takouba task force, currently numbering 600 men and which is to support the Malian armed forces in combat.

The problem is that relations between Paris and certain capitals appear to have deteriorated. While France has resumed its military cooperation with Mali, the junta's new coup has frustrated French authorities. Emmanuel Macron is also no longer hiding his exasperation at the lack of responsiveness from certain states.

In this context, Paris is counting more than ever on Niamey, as evidenced by Mohamed Bazoum's visit this Friday to the Élysée to participate in this summit alongside the French president.