The Berlin Conference, held from 1884 to 1885, marked a significant moment in history as Western countries partitioned Africa into territories and established rules for dividing its resources, largely disregarding the well-being of the African people. Since 2020, seven African nations – Mali, Chad, Niger, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Gabon – have experienced military coups leading to the overthrow of their presidents. Most of these nations were once French territories, highlighting France’s deep historical ties with West African politics. These developments have significantly affected France, and the United States continues to monitor the evolving dynamics of the Africa-France relationship closely, especially in light of Russia and China’s established roles in the region. This shift raises critical questions about Africa’s future and its interactions with the global community. At the TANTV TALK TOWNHALL, a community-oriented event aimed at educating and engaging the African and African diaspora communities on important US-Africa and diaspora engagement issues, we spoke with Jean Claude, a Gabonese American, who shared his insights on France’s post-colonial tensions in Africa.
Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the two thousand five hundred lives lost in a recent earthquake in Morocco. Intriguingly, when the earthquake struck, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI was in France. Despite the French government offering assistance, the King declined. This decision is noteworthy, particularly given the magnitude of the disaster and France’s proximity and resources. The refusal likely stems from longstanding underlying issues.
In Francophone Africa, a movement reminiscent of the Arab Spring is emerging, which could be termed the ‘Francophone Spring’. This upheaval traces its roots back to the colonial era, specifically to the 1884 Berlin Conference where Chancellor Bismarck and representatives from fourteen countries divided Africa into fifty irregular states, splitting a thousand indigenous groups and sowing the seeds of today’s chaos. Notably, six countries, including the USSR (now Russia), abstained from this partition. This history has profoundly influenced sentiments in Africa.
In 1957, Kwame Nkrumah, a visionary leader, famously stated, “At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever.” He emphasized the interdependence of Ghana’s independence with the liberation of the entire African continent. Today, it is imperative for Africans to recognize what is at stake. We must unite, irrespective of social status, to liberate Africa. It is time to end the tragedy of African youth perishing in the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of better lives in Europe. Africa possesses abundant resources and potential to supply electricity, gas, and agricultural expertise globally. It is only when we recognize and harness these assets, as the colonizers once did, that we can truly realize our potential and rise.”
There is debate about why France, a country invaded by Nazi Germany and liberated partly by Africans and the United States, holds a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. I emphasize ‘Africans’ because numerous Africans contributed significantly to eradicating the Nazis in France, often referred to as ‘tirailleurs sénégalais’ meaning the men in arms from Senegal. These men, from what were then 18 colonies, fought valiantly but received little recognition until recently.
When examining history, we see that General De Gaulle was the general that decided to break away from accepting Nazi, went to Congo Brazzaville, and for a minute, the capital of the French Resistance was in Africa. And from there, not only did they take the people but also the resources to go and fight to gain back France as a free country.
During Nazi occupation, a German currency system was imposed in France. Interestingly, after the war, France adopted a similar system in its African colonies, introducing the CFA (Colony French Africa). Despite its later name change, the CFA is still viewed as an insult. Post-war, France was impoverished and indebted, necessitating access to free resources from Africa to rebuild its economy. Even with the Marshall Plan from the US, France heavily relied on African natural resources.
The CFA system allowed France to maintain control over the currency in its former colonies. These countries were required to deposit a significant percentage of their currency reserves in a French bank, initially 75%, later reduced to 50%. If these countries needed more than the allowed quota, they had to borrow at an expense. These countries could not claim interest on the deposited funds, as France could reallocate them for something else. One of the founding principles of the system was that colonies had to keep 50 percent of their foreign currency reserves in the French Treasury, plus an additional 20 percent for financial liabilities. So, member states only retained 30 percent of reserves within their borders.
This system was akin to creating a new currency, which I will call ‘Currency A,’ and forcing its use while retaining control. The value of this currency, in international trade, was limited, and its exchange rates were set by France, often unfavorably for the African countries. As a result, the development of these economies was severely hindered.
To illustrate, “So I create this, it’s a paper, and I say this particular paper now is going to be equivalent to this 20-dollar bill, but anytime you need to buy something, you give me the paper, since I’m the one that created it, but what I do is I take your product and I sell it in the International System and I get some dollars. So let’s say I get twenty dollars from the US that bought that currency about that particular product. I take that 20, I put it into my account, and now I give you this and I tell you this is the equivalent of twenty dollars but in that currency that you cannot use to trade. But that currency if you’re trying to take it to Asia, nobody’s going to use it. If you’re trying to take it to the US, nobody can use it because it can only be used between you and France. But then at the same time, right, that money that I give you, I’m telling you, “Oh, you know what, because of fluctuation in the International System, I cannot give you the full amount. I have to only give you 50%. So that means that you’re just going to get half of that, and with that, you are supposed to develop your economy. That’s what the CFA is.”
For example, in the 1960s, countries like Ivory Coast were at the same level or even ahead of some Asian countries like Singapore, which were seeking to learn from Ivory Coast’s agricultural development. Today, while everyone talks about the success of the Asian “Five Dragons” – Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and others – Ivory Coast remains at roughly the same level it was 63 years ago.
France played a significant role in this stagnation through a system of colonial agreements established between 11 or 13 African countries prior to independence. These agreements included provisions that required these countries to sell their raw materials exclusively to France at a price set by France. This economic dependence hindered the development of these countries.
In the 1960s, France granted these countries a semblance of political independence while retaining control over their natural resources and manipulating their political landscapes. France was responsible for numerous coups d’état, removing leaders deemed unfavorable to their interests.
Officially, only 400 French military personnel remain in a steep decline from 2,000 after France forced withdrawal from Niger, mainly to protect French economic interests, under the guise of combating threats like piracy.
The disparity in wealth distribution and resource allocation exacerbates the underdevelopment of these countries and fuels resentment among the youth, who see their countries’ wealth but fail to reap any benefits. For instance, Niger, which supplies two-thirds of France’s uranium, generates an annual value of approximately $38 billion but receives only about $315 million in return. Yet, Niger receives most of its electricity from Nigeria, whereas it could have been the one providing electricity to the entire region.
This disparity makes the youth question why people say their country is rich when they see no evidence of it in their daily lives. They ask, “Who is enjoying this wealth? Is it just a minority in power?” They see little value in remaining in a system designed to keep their countries underdeveloped and dependent on raw material production.
A growing number of young people are recognizing that their underdevelopment is not solely due to corrupt leadership but also to a system perpetuated by France. This awareness, fueled by social media, is fostering communication and understanding. They realize their situation is the result of both internal corruption and external manipulation.
France’s system of exploitation is well-known. The historical and ongoing economic dynamics between France and its former African colonies, particularly in relation to the CFA franc system, have been a subject of international discourse. While these relationships are recognized globally, including by countries such as the United States, international responses vary. The U.S., for instance, has its own complex and multifaceted foreign policy priorities in Africa, which may not always directly address or confront France’s economic practices in the region. This difference in approach can be attributed to a variety of factors, including geopolitical interests and diplomatic strategies. It is important to consider that international relations are often guided by a range of considerations and interests, which can result in varied responses to the same issue.
It is clear that African countries must take the initiative to free themselves from this system. The key to liberation for African nations is unity and taking control of their destiny. As awareness grows and positive changes occur, more people are likely to join this movement for autonomy and progress, as seen in countries like Niger.
Opinion is by Jean-Claude, CTO, Afrika Technologies; and documented by Abolaji Omitogun
