(SenePlus) – According to an analysis by Kristian Laubjerg, the relationship between France and its former African colonies remains complex and controversial, marked by decades of neocolonialism.
The author claims that “France has never granted real independence to its former African territories.” He emphasizes that France’s international status and the financial gains of its transnational companies depend on continued control of these territories.
Laubjerg highlights the methods used by France to maintain its influence, notably through the figure of Jacques Foccart, General de Gaulle’s advisor on African affairs. According to him, Foccart “did not hesitate to resort to murder to promote France’s economic and political interests.”
A key element of this dominance would be the CFA franc, which Laubjerg calls “an invisible weapon”. He explains that “the CFA continues to keep these countries in servile poverty and without any means available for the development of local industries”.
The author also highlights the limited impact of this relationship on the human development of the former French colonies. He notes that “despite more than 60 years of French tutelage and continuous neocolonial control, these countries rank among the poorest in the world according to the United Nations Human Development Index.”
Kristian Laubjerg concludes by discussing current resistance movements, particularly in the Sahel countries and Senegal, which are demanding a break with French influence. He cites the slogan “France, get out!” of the FRAPP movement as a symbol of this desire for emancipation.
This analysis offers a critical perspective on France’s colonial legacy in Africa and its contemporary implications, challenging the official narrative on Franco-African relations.
