The French “Freak” Show in Africa

 

Francafrique is the French influence on its former colonies. It remains a fact but there is growing resentment amongst the young. Beginning in the 1980s, many French presidential candidates announced plans to put an end to Françafrique. But the promise of a new beginning between France and the francophone states has turned into a mere ritual, according to Ian Taylor, professor of African politics at St. Andrews University in Scotland.

But why do neither Africa's elites nor France seem to want to break away from the clutches of Françafrique? Researcher Paul Melly of the British think-tank Chatham House puts the blame squarely on the shoulders of the elite’s intent on defending their private interests. In 1962, French President Charles de Gaulle commissioned his adviser Jacques Foccart to build up Françafrique.

Foccart came up with the treaties that are still in force today. In exchange for military protection against attempted coups and the payment of hefty kickbacks, African leaders guaranteed French companies access to strategic resources such as diamonds, ores, uranium, gas and oil. The result is a solid presence of French interests on the continent, including 1,100 companies, some 2,100 subsidiaries and the third largest investment portfolio after Great Britain and the United States. France also retains the right of first refusal on all- natural resources and privileged access to government contracts.

France also has a considerable military presence in Africa. It leads the Barkhane operation against Islamist groups in the Sahel region, in which around 5,100 soldiers from several countries are involved. According to the US daily "New York Times", in 2007, almost half of France's 12,000 peacekeeping troops were deployed to Africa. These troops have both military and advisory capabilities as well as support and stabilize regimes of the respective countries.

The current relationship between African countries and France prevents successful African development and sovereignty.

 

1. The former colonies have to pay a “colonial debt.”

The newly “independent” countries are forced to pay for the country’s infrastructure that France takes credit for building during colonization. The amount of this debt varies depending on which country is paying the debt and how its infrastructure is developed.

2. France can automatically confiscate the African country’s national reserves.

The African country must deposit its national monetary reserves into France’s central bank.

France has held the national reserves of 14 African countries since 1961: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon.

It is estimated that France now holds nearly $500 billion of African countries’ money in its treasury and will do anything to keep it. Moreover, the African countries do not have access to this money.

France allows them to access only 15 percent of the money in any given year. If they need more than that, they have to borrow at commercial rates from the remaining 85 percent - of their own money – that is held hostage by the French Treasury.

To make things worse, France fixes a limit on the amount of money the countries may borrow from the reserve. The limit is fixed at 20 percent of their public revenue in the preceding year. If the countries need to borrow more than that, France vetoes it.

3. France claims the right to exploit any natural resource discovered in the country.

France claims it has the first right to buy any natural resources found on the territory of its ex-colonies. The African countries are also not allowed to seek other partners freely.

4. France forces African countries to give preference to French interests and companies in the field of public procurement and public biding.

According to government contracts, French companies must be considered first. Only after that can Africans connect with other foreign companies. It doesn’t matter if the African countries would benefit from a partner outside of France.

5. France claims an exclusive right to supply military equipment and training to African military officers.

The situation in Africa now is that France has trained and nourished hundreds, even thousands of traitors. They are activated when France needs them to commit another coup d’état or create a disturbing political situation inside Africa.

6. France claims a right to deploy troops and intervene in the African country to defend France’s interests.

Under the conditions of defence agreements and the Colonial Pact, France claims a legal right to intervene militarily in the African countries and also deploy its troops permanently on their military bases.

7. The African countries are obliged to make French the official language of the country and of education.

The “Francophone” cultural and educational system, with several satellites and their affiliates, is supervised directly by the French minister of foreign affairs.

African people are pressured to speak French instead of their own languages.

8. France’s former colonies are forced to use the colonial currency FCFA (the CFA franc).

It has been condemned by the European Union, but France is not ready to get rid of such a system that drains the African countries of their wealth and brings to about $500 billion annually to the French treasury.

9. The African countries are obliged to send France an annual balance and reserve report.

Without the report the African countries cannot get money from the reserves of the French central bank. Also, the central banks of ex-colonies are controlled and managed by the French central bank.

10. The African countries are prohibited from entering into any military alliance.

The African countries in general have military alliances with their ex-colonizers. Moreover, France forbids the Africans from looking for any form of military cooperation and protection outside of that offered by the French government.

11. The African countries are obliged to ally only with France during a situation of war or global crisis.

More than a million African soldiers contributed to the defeat of Nazism and fascism in World War II. However, this contribution is often ignored or underestimated.

For several decades in Africa, debates have taken place around economic relations between France and its former colonies in the continent. Despite statements, French President Emmanuel Macron is in no mood to end the unequal and unfair relationship, as his country continues to control the trade and currency of these former colonies. The maintenance of economic domination allows the prolongation of political domination.

 

The French motto is about liberty, equality and fraternity. None of that is displayed in Africa or Haiti after 60 years or more of so-called independence.

 

References:

Africa and France: an unfulfilled dream of independence, www.dw.com

France is still robbing its ‘former’ African colonies, Anastacia Promskaya, Sep 25, 2015

Opinion-unfair French economic relations with Africa, Mohamed Badine El Yattioui, www.aa.com.tr