Africa: Is the European Union falling into the French trap by sanctioning certain Africans for denouncing French policy in Africa?
According to reliable diplomatic sources, the European Union seems to be treading a dangerous path. Some European diplomats have criticized the attitude of certain high-ranking EU officials, who are allegedly being instrumentalized by French authorities to target Africans critical of France’s policies on the continent. However, even in France, many citizens are daily speaking out against their country’s paternalistic approach toward Africa.
For a Belgian elected official, it would be extremely dangerous for the European Union to sanction Africans or consider that any opposition to French policy equates to a pro-Russian alignment. According to him, France is on the verge of losing its influence in Africa due to its condescending attitude and refusal to face reality, preferring to attack those who denounce its policies rather than questioning them.
The European Union should learn from this situation and avoid being drawn into this French strategy. If it were to sanction Africans opposed to French policies in Africa, it could further damage its relations with the continent, which today seeks genuine independence and a strong assertion of sovereignty.
According to our correspondent in Brussels, several European lawmakers share this concern and fear that the EU might rely on biased reports to justify coercive measures against Africans. By aligning with French policy, which tends to label anyone who challenges its influence in Africa as “pro-Russian” or “anti-Western,” the European Union could jeopardize its position and influence on the continent.
Ultimately, is France dragging the European Union into its own post-colonial crisis with African nations? Is the EU becoming a mere extension of French policy?
