Côte d’Ivoire: Alassane Ouattara, France’s scapegoat or a calculated political strategy?
Since the tumultuous time of the military intervention in Libya in 2011, when Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown, a shadow of suspicion hovers again on the relations between France and the African leaders, this time it is the case with the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. Allegations suggest that Emmanuel Macron may be preparing a political «betrayal» against President 9Ouattara, highlighting the complex geopolitical motive that often guides France’s actions in Africa.
If this information proves accurate, it would confirm a well-established notion: France has no friends, it has interests. This pattern, where African leaders are used as political pawns to serve French interests, then discarded when these interests evolve, seems to be a constant in the history of Franco-African relations.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara could become the last victim of this strategy. France, often accused of manipulating African leaders according to its needs, seems to be refining a maneuver that could have significant implications for political stability in Côte d’Ivoire.
The major risk for France would be to lose its grip on Côte d’Ivoire. If Ouattara, who has long been a key partner of France in the region, were to be sidelined, this could signal a decline in French influence in West Africa. France, which has often sought to maintain subtle control over its former colonies, could find itself faced with a reality where it is gradually losing its grip on Côte d’Ivoire.
However, the complexity of this situation lies in the fact that African leaders are not just puppets. They are political actors with their own agendas and strategies. The relationship between France and Alassane Ouattara may be characterized as a pragmatic alliance, but politics is subject to unexpected reversals.
If France seems to be preparing a new political orientation in Côte d’Ivoire, the implications for the region and Franco-African relations could be significant. The current allegations raise crucial questions about the nature of relations between former colonial powers and African nations, underscoring once again the need to redefine these relations on a more equitable and mutually beneficial basis.
In conclusion, the question of whether Alassane Ouattara is used as a scapegoat by France or whether it is simply a natural evolution of political relations, remains subject to debate. What is certain is that this situation highlights the complexity of Franco-African dynamics and the need for a thorough reflection on international relations based on transparency and mutual respect.
