Despite Condemning Military-led Transition in The Sahel, France President Macron Welcomes Al-Qaeda’s Takeover in Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron has hailed the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria on Sunday and welcomed the takeover by Al-Qaeda-linked groups, showing a stark contrast to his condemnations of recent military-led transitions in Africa and the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Macron expressed solidarity with Syria’s people despite maintaining a hardline stance against leaders like Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Assimi Goïta of Mali and Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger.

“The barbaric state has fallen. At last,” Macron wrote on X, referring to Assad’s government. “I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. France will remain committed to the security of all in the Middle East,” he added.

France’s vocal support for the new leadership in Syria dominated by groups aligned with Al-Qaeda, stood in sharp contrast to its response to political upheavals in Africa.

Macron has repeatedly denounced the overthrow of pro-Western governments in the Sahel, warning against growing anti-French sentiments and challenging the legitimacy of the AES.

In November, revelations show France’s intelligence service, the General Directorate of External Security (DGSE), may have been involved in an attempt to destabilise Niger.

Also, Nigerien Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Yaou Sangaré accused France and its Western allies of funding and supporting terrorist groups in the Sahel region. Sangaré made the accusation while speaking before world leaders at the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations.

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