On Africa and France
Once upon a time, in a village located in the heart of Senegal, an old man named Amadou sat under the shade of a baobab tree, recounting stories to his grandchildren. His voice, weathered by time and tinged with both sorrow and resilience, carried the weight of generations. He spoke of the Thiaroye massacre, a dark chapter in 1944 when Senegalese soldiers, who had fought valiantly for France in World War II, were gunned down by their own commanders. The crime? Demanding the wages they were owed. The French colonial rulers, ever the masters of betrayal, had once again shown their true colours. Amadou’s eyes glistened as he spoke, not just of the pain, but of the hope that one day, Africa would be free from the clutches of its oppressors. That day, it seems, is finally dawning.
The French retreat from Africa, marked by the expulsion of their military bases from Senegal, Chad, and Côte d’Ivoire, is not just a geopolitical shift; it is a poetic reckoning. For centuries, France has played the role of the benevolent coloniser, masking its exploitation with the veneer of civilisation and development. But the mask has slipped, and Africa is no longer willing to play along. The so-called “African Frexit” is not just a rejection of French military presence; it is a declaration of independence, a reclaiming of sovereignty, and a step closer to true freedom.
To understand the significance of this retreat, one must first confront the brutal history of French colonialism in Africa. France’s relationship with the continent was never one of mutual benefit; it was a parasitic extraction of resources, labour, and dignity. The French Empire, at its peak, controlled vast swathes of Africa, from the deserts of the Sahel to the jungles of Central Africa. The colonial administration was ruthless, enforcing forced labour, arbitrary taxation, and violent suppression of dissent. The infamous “Code de l’Indigénat’’ (Native Code) institutionalised racial discrimination, reducing Africans to second-class citizens in their own land.
Even after the wave of independence movements in the 1960s, France maintained its grip through neocolonial mechanisms. The CFA franc, a currency tied to the French Treasury, ensured economic dependency. French corporations monopolised key industries, from mining to telecommunications, siphoning wealth out of Africa. Military interventions, often under the guise of peacekeeping, served to prop up puppet regimes and suppress any threat to French interests. The result was a continent rich in resources but impoverished by design.
The recent wave of expulsions of French troops from the Sahel region is a testament to Africa’s growing assertiveness. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have taken the lead in dismantling the remnants of French imperialism. These nations, long plagued by terrorism and instability, have come to realise that the presence of French troops has done little to address their security concerns. If anything, it has exacerbated them.
Take Operation Barkhane, France’s much-touted counterterrorism mission in the Sahel. Launched in 2014, it was supposed to eradicate jihadist groups. Instead, it became a symbol of France’s failure. The operation, which cost billions of euros and claimed countless lives, only deepened the region’s instability. Local populations grew increasingly resentful of the foreign troops, who were seen as occupiers rather than protectors. The rise of anti-French sentiment was inevitable.
When the interim governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their decision to expel French troops, it was not just a political move; it was a cultural and psychological liberation. The sight of French soldiers packing up their bases and leaving was a powerful symbol of Africa’s reclaiming of its destiny. As one Malian activist put it, “We are not just kicking out the French; we are kicking out the ghost of colonialism.”
French President Emmanuel Macron’s reaction to these developments has been a masterclass in arrogance and denial. In his annual address to French ambassadors, Macron lamented that African nations had “forgotten to say thank you” for France’s military interventions. This statement, dripping with paternalistic condescension, reveals the deep-seated colonial mindset that still pervades French policy. Macron seems to believe that Africa owes France a debt of gratitude for its exploitation. The audacity is staggering.
Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, aptly responded by reminding Macron of Africa’s crucial role in liberating France during both World Wars. “If African soldiers had not fought for France,” he said, “it might still be German today.” This retort cuts to the heart of the matter: France’s relationship with Africa has always been one of exploitation, not partnership. The African soldiers who fought in World War II were not volunteers; they were conscripts, often forced into service and treated as cannon fodder. Their sacrifices were never truly acknowledged, let alone repaid.
As France retreats, Africa is looking eastward. Russia, China, Turkey, and other nations are stepping in to fill the void, offering partnerships that, at least on the surface, appear more equitable. Russia’s Wagner Group has already established a presence in Mali and Burkina Faso, providing security assistance in exchange for access to natural resources. China, with its Belt and Road Initiative, is investing heavily in infrastructure projects across the continent. Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is positioning itself as a champion of Muslim-majority nations, offering military and economic support.
While these new alliances come with their own risks, they represent a break from the historical dominance of Western powers. For the first time in centuries, African nations have the opportunity to negotiate on their own terms, to choose partners based on mutual benefit rather than coercion. This shift is not just geopolitical; it is psychological. It signals the end of the colonial mindset and the beginning of a new era of African agency.
The French retreat is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, but it is not a panacea. Africa’s challenges are immense: terrorism, poverty, corruption, and climate change, to name just a few. The departure of French troops will not magically solve these problems. If anything, it places the onus squarely on African leaders to step up and deliver. The formation of the AES is a promising start, but it will require sustained commitment and cooperation to succeed.
Moreover, the rise of new alliances brings its own set of challenges. Russia and China, for all their promises, are not altruistic actors. Their interests in Africa are driven by their own strategic and economic agendas. African nations must tread carefully, ensuring that they do not replace one form of dependency with another.
The French retreat from Africa is not just a military withdrawal; it is a symbolic unshackling. For centuries, Africa has been bound by the chains of colonialism and neocolonialism. The expulsion of French troops is a powerful step towards breaking those chains. It is a declaration that Africa will no longer be a pawn in the games of foreign powers. It is a reclaiming of sovereignty, dignity, and destiny.
As Amadou sat under the baobab tree, his grandchildren listened intently, their eyes wide with hope. The stories of Thiaroye and other atrocities were not just tales of suffering; they were lessons in resilience. The French retreat is a reminder that the arc of history, though long, bends towards justice. Africa’s journey to freedom is far from over, but with each step, the horizon grows brighter. And as the sun sets on French imperialism, a new dawn rises for Africa.
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Rajeev Ahmed
The Editor of Geopolits.com and the Author of the book titled Bengal Nexus
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