Russia’s intelligence agency alleges France is plotting coups and destabilization across Africa, targeting leaders in the Sahel and Madagascar, though Paris denies the claims.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has alleged that France is planning “neocolonial coups” across Africa to destabilize governments it considers undesirable, particularly in the Sahel region. The agency claimed French President Emmanuel Macron authorized operations to “eliminate ‘undesirable leaders’,” citing a failed coup in Burkina Faso and alleged plots against military leaders in Mali, Niger, and Madagascar. The SVR also accused France of supporting armed groups and coordinating with Ukraine to supply drones and instructors.
The claims come amid growing anti-French sentiment in former colonies, with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger expelling French troops and rejecting Paris’ legitimacy. The SVR report further alleges attacks on fuel convoys, city blockades, and efforts to overthrow Madagascar’s interim President Michael Randrianirina. France has yet to respond to the latest allegations, though it has previously denied involvement in supporting Islamist militants in the Sahel.