Departure of the Confederation of Sahel States from the Francophonie: Backgrounds and Consequences

The International Organization of La Francophonie was established on March 20, 1970, in Niamey, Niger, under the name “Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation.” This initiative was led by three African heads of state: Hamani Diori (Niger), Léopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal), and Habib Bourguiba (Tunisia), with the main goal of promoting cooperation among French-speaking countries.

Over time, the agency evolved into the “International Organization of La Francophonie.” Today, the organization comprises 54 member states, seven associate members, and 27 observer countries. It plays a key role in spreading the French language and enhancing cooperation among French-speaking nations.

Generally, the International Organization of La Francophonie aims to achieve several objectives, most notably enhancing the status of the French language and fostering solidarity among member states.

On March 18, 2025, Mali, currently ruled by a military authority, announced its withdrawal from the International Organization of La Francophonie, just one day after its neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso made the same declaration. Mali justified its decision by stating that the organization was acting in a manner inconsistent with the constitutional principles based on the sovereignty of the Malian state.

The G5 Sahel (Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali) also felt that the International Organization of La Francophonie did not support Mali in fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of its people, instead imposing selective sanctions and showing disdain for the country’s sovereignty, particularly since Mali’s membership in the organization was suspended in August 2020 following the military coup that ousted elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

During the French Language and Francophonie Week, the military regime in Niger announced its exit from the organization. National sovereignty has been a priority for the military regime, which came to power through a coup in July 2023, severing ties with several Western partners, most notably France.

On March 17, 2025, the Nigerien government informed the presidency of the Francophonie summit that it had decided to sovereignly withdraw from the International Organization of La Francophonie, and a similar memorandum was sent to France, as Paris currently holds the presidency of the summit.

According to statements from the leaders of the three countries, the decision to withdraw was made in accordance with Article 10 of the charter of the International Organization of La Francophonie, which states that “any member may withdraw from the organization by notifying the government of the country presiding over the summit or the government of the country where the organization has its headquarters.” The withdrawal will take effect six months after the date of official notification.

The press release issued by the conference of heads of state of the three Sahel countries on March 18, 2025, reflected the definitive break between them and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Background That Must Be Understood The Sahel States Union considers that the International Organization of La Francophonie has applied sanctions selectively, based on geopolitical considerations, since the political transformations in the three countries. The union’s leaders expressed their regret over what they described as the organization’s disregard for the sovereignty of these nations, making it a political tool instead of a supporter of their peoples’ legitimate aspirations. They emphasized that they had contributed to the founding and strengthening of this organization over 55 years.

The statement read: “Since the onset of the transitional phase in Mali, then in Burkina Faso and Niger, instead of supporting these nations in achieving their peoples’ legitimate aspirations, in accordance with its goals of peace, cooperation, and solidarity, it has been marked by the imposition of selective sanctions based on geopolitical considerations, with a clear disdain for its sovereignty.”

Additionally, the statement noted, “Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger, based on principles of people-to-people closeness through multilateral cooperation aimed at promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and dialogue among civilizations, actively participated as founding members in the Niamey Summit, during which on March 20, 1970, the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation was established, which later became the International Governmental Agency of La Francophonie in 1998, and subsequently the International Organization of La Francophonie in 2005.”

In addition to these direct backgrounds, there are indirect backgrounds, particularly the desire of military authorities in all Sahel countries to break free from all symbols of French colonialism, especially after French troops stationed in their countries were evacuated, along with other foreign forces, including European and American troops. These military authorities criticize France for being a party to their national problems, accusing it of playing a double role in the war against terrorism and terrorists, openly aligning with its governments while secretly siding with terrorists. Furthermore, they accuse France of draining their resources from colonial times and beyond their independence, asserting that political leaders conspired with France against their own peoples for decades after independence to maintain their seats of power. They see themselves today as liberators of their nations from these colonial legacies, leading to a definitive separation from France, as they no longer wish to remain under any umbrella linking them to it.

What Comes After the Withdrawal from the Organization? For Niger, which was the birthplace of the Francophonie and hosted the founding conference of the organization, its withdrawal symbolically represents a significant loss for Francophonie as a founding member. It is essential to remember that Niamey was the venue for the establishment of the “Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation,” which evolved into the International Organization of La Francophonie on March 20, 1970, at the initiative of then-Nigerien President Hamani Diori, one of the founders of institutional francophonie.

Since the military coup on July 26, 2023, which led to the suspension of Niger’s membership in the organization, relations with France have deteriorated significantly, culminating in the announcement of withdrawal on March 17, 2025. The spokesperson for the International Organization of La Francophonie, Oriak Vandiouyegi, described this decision as “regrettable,” but did not rule out the possibility of continued cooperation with Niamey, stating, “The Secretary-General of the organization will seek the opinions of member states to see how Francophonie can remain engaged with the peoples of these countries. We have existing projects; should Niger’s withdrawal deprive us of them? Francophonie cares about Francophone communities, even in non-member countries, so there is no reason to end this cooperation with Niger.”

As for Mali, it also represents a strong symbol of institutional Francophonie, despite accusing the organization of double standards in applying sanctions. Its withdrawal memorandum likewise reminded the organization of its historical role within it, leaving the door open for future relationship restoration; the Republic of Mali, as a founding member of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation that later became the International Organization of La Francophonie, significantly contributed to building and enhancing this organization. Mali has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to the values and ideals promoted by Francophonie.

Burkina Faso has not provided many details regarding its reasons for withdrawal; however, it is clear that the decision is linked to the same factors that led Niger and Mali to make similar choices. The nation, which was a major founding member of Francophonie, is now adopting a stance aligned with its neighbors, sharing the same anti-France political direction, their mutual decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and their move towards new international partnerships, most notably a rapprochement with Russia.

As for the Francophonie Organization, its economy presents significant potential due to the size of its market and the diversity of its members’ economies. According to the organization’s 2022 report, the economic space of the Francophonie accounts for 16% of the global GDP and 20% of global trade, representing nearly 15% of the world’s energy and mineral resources. The Francophonie countries also include many emerging nations, especially in West and Central Africa, that are experiencing rapid economic growth.

Moreover, member states’ economies often share common characteristics, such as colonial history, trade links, and legal practices, which can facilitate trade exchanges and investments between these countries. The Francophonie also provides a political and institutional framework for economic cooperation, such as through the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—a free trade agreement among 54 African countries, including many Francophone members—or the Eurozone, the European Union, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which includes several Francophone members.

The Francophone space, consisting of 88 states and governments that are members of the International Organization of La Francophonie, represents 16% of the global GDP and demonstrates an economic growth rate of 7%.

Therefore, the withdrawal of G5 Sahel states will impact cultural, educational, sports, and artistic partnerships, as well as financial support. This will put an end to various funding projects benefiting the youth. Additionally, the future of employees from ECOWAS working in the Conference of Ministers for Youth and Sports and the Conference of Ministers of National Education, both bodies established by the International Organization of La Francophonie, will be uncertain.

The organization has also financially supported the African Cinema and Television Festival (FESPACO) in Ouagadougou since the early 1970s. In its most recent edition, 34 African countries received support from La Francophonie. The organization has contributed to the production of hundreds of cinematic and television works, particularly in 1988 with the establishment of the Image Fund.

By severing ties with the Francophonie Organization, the leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso will no longer receive funding from the organization and will lose access to numerous activities supporting culture, education, and the promotion of peace and democracy.

The usage of the French language may decline, as these countries might reduce their reliance on French as an official or educational language, potentially enhancing the status of local languages (such as Bambara and Fulani, among others). However, this may face logistical challenges, such as a lack of educational materials in local languages or the need to restructure educational systems. These countries may also struggle to access Francophone resources due to the loss of financial and technical support from the organization in education and culture, such as scholarships or teacher training programs. Additionally, this withdrawal could be accompanied by policies aimed at reviving local cultural heritage, including traditional arts, music, and literature, which would bolster African identity and diminish the previous colonial impact. However, the educated elite relying on French for their cultural productions may face difficulties adapting to the shift towards local languages. Opportunities for participation in cultural events, such as festivals or exhibitions, could decrease, undermining these countries’ international presence. Consequently, they may seek to enhance relations with African organizations like the African Union or English- or Arabic-speaking countries, leading to the emergence of media channels in local languages or increased use of Arabic in the context of rapprochement with the Arab world, which could spark creativity in local languages.

Ending cooperation with the Francophonie Organization may result in these countries losing cultural support networks that contribute to the development of sectors such as national archives or museums, potentially causing the migration of intellectuals or artists reliant on Francophonie to other countries, thereby weakening the local cultural landscape.

Conclusion Withdrawal may decrease the use of the French language, impacting bilingual education programs and cultural exchanges with French-speaking countries. It could lead to a decline in international funding and research cooperation with Francophone nations, affecting joint scientific research projects. The withdrawal may limit opportunities for academic exchange between Sahel countries and Francophone countries, affecting the mobility of students and professors. Overall, this withdrawal might promote cultural sovereignty and reduce dependence on France, but it requires significant local investment to compensate for the resulting gap. Thus, the consequences could be mixed: positive for identity but fraught with economic and logistical challenges.