AFRICA / French military presence: Time to take stock
Speaking of supposed military and defence cooperation, after the Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso and probably soon Niger, the French military presence does not have a bright future ahead of it in Africa. The recent coups d’état in the Sahel have shown the determination of the African people to turn the dark pages of Western imperialism and to throw off the shackles of neo-colonialism.
In 1960, when France granted independence to its former colonies, it imposed the signing of a number of agreements in several areas. There were agreements on the CFA franc, agreements on the exploitation of mining and strategic resources subject to special conditions, giving preference to France, and agreements on military and defence cooperation. These provisions were in line with what Jacques Foccart called «the need to get organised, because it’s independence, we have to leave, but we have to get organised to stay»
The establishment of French military bases in Africa has brought nothing of substance to the people, except disgust and bitterness. As we all know, most of the reasons for setting up French military bases are spurious, and they are agreements, if you can call them that, made in complete secrecy by heads of state alone. The recent installation of French military bases in Niger with the Reaper drones raised many problems during Bazoum’s time. The President of the National Assembly of Niger publicly denounced the fact that the deputies had not been informed beforehand of the conditions for accepting this foreign base. Examples like this are legion in the sub-region.
The departure of the French troops from Mali and Burkina Faso is a relief for the population, given their unhealthy plan to plunge our countries into the abyss. No Frenchman will seek to die to defend the cause of a black person. Never. Apart from creating the false pretext of terrorism to justify their presence in occupied territories, to spread their hegemony over former colonies.
A fictitious sovereignty in reality: a monetary stranglehold, control over the exploitation of mineral wealth, vigilant surveillance by a military base charged with ensuring the defence of French interests. In other words, the economic, political and military situation was totally under control, allowing France to maintain total control over its colonies. Today, more than half a century later, the situation is much the same.
Taking seriously the damage caused in Mali and Burkina, what normal state would accept these bloodthirsty psychopaths in its midst? The people of Niger are right to demand their departure, and the sooner the better.
Fatim MUSSO
