France is facing more blowback from its former colonies as Gabon and Togo join the Commonwealth. This move is seen as a direct rebuke of France’s policies towards its former colonies, and is likely to further strain relations between the two countries. France has already been facing criticism from many of its former colonies for its handling of the current global financial crisis, and this latest development is sure to add to the tension.
Gabon’s Libreville – Shortly before the Central African nation joined the Commonwealth last month, Michael Moussa-Adamo, the foreign minister of Gabon, told Al Jazeera that “traditional polarity is changing and with that Gabon must also evolve.” Despite the two having no prior ties to London, it joined Togo as the newest member of the club of largely former British colonies in Francophone Africa.
Moussa-Adamo was referring to the fact that, for the first time in its history, the Commonwealth would be admitting members who were not previously part of the British Empire. This is a reflection of the changing world order, in which former colonial powers are increasingly losing influence.
Formerly known as “France’s back yard,” the two African nations were governed by dynasty autocracies that received backing from Paris. These nations were considered highly important to France due to their strategic location and their abundant natural resources. However, in recent years, both nations have become increasingly unstable, with widespread violence and corruption. France has been forced to re-evaluate its relationship with these nations, and is now working to distance itself from them.
As a result, the decision to focus on the Anglophone population is seen as the most recent setback for France in Africa. This is following successful overthrows of pro-French administrations in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso. This decision will likely further anger and alienate France’s African partners, who were already upset with France’s slow response to the crisis in the region. France has long been seen as the “colonial power” in Africa, and this latest decision will do nothing to change that perception.
The news that France is no longer the preferred partner for West African nations is definitely not good for the country. According to Gilles Yabi, an economist and political expert based in Dakar, this is viewed as a setback, indicative of the changing nature of relations with France. It is clear that France is no longer the unique and special partner for these nations, and this is definitely not good news for the country.
Both nations stated that exposure to the Anglophone commercial and development partners was a major factor in their decision to join the Commonwealth. Many citizens of the former French nations think that the former British colonies have advanced considerably more quickly than their French-speaking neighbours. The citizens of the former French nations believe that by joining the Commonwealth, they will be able to gain the same level of exposure and development opportunities as their Anglophone neighbours.
Nima Yussuf, senior project manager of ESP, a firm that invests in Gabonese business owners, declared that “people are quite excited.” “They observe countries like Rwanda, which was formerly francophone but is now a member of the Commonwealth, and the advantages that have accrued to that nation. Investment, visibility, and collaborations excite them. Yussuf continued, “Gabon has all the potential in the world. We have the forests, the minerals, and the oil. We just need to learn to value these resources and use them to our advantage.”
Leaders with ties to France are concerned about the growing anti-French sentiment across the globe. This sentiment is being fueled by a number of factors, including the perception that France is not doing enough to combat terrorism, and that it is not doing enough to help refugees. Additionally, there is a perception that France is too cosy with the United States, and that it is not doing enough to stand up to American power. In light of all this, leaders with ties to France are working to try to improve the country’s image and to counter the negative sentiment.
African presidents who have close ties to France often face criticism from opposition and civil society organisations within their own countries. To avoid this, many of these leaders have sought to distance themselves from Paris in recent years. This has created some tension between these African countries and France, which has long been considered their main ally.
Because they ousted leaders who benefited from close ties to France and paid less attention to escalating economic and security concerns, the military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were widely supported by the general populace. According to reports, France promised to transfer Roch Marc Christian Kaboré from the nation’s capital of Ouagadougou when he was ousted by the army in January.
Kémi Séba, a leading opponent of colonialism in Francophone Africa, claimed that the Sahelian events had reinforced anti-French sentiments throughout Francophone Africa. He argued that the French government’s actions in the Sahel region were a direct extension of its colonial policies, and that the people of Francophone Africa were tired of being treated like second-class citizens. Séba’s claims resonated with many people in Francophone Africa, and led to a surge in anti-French sentiment throughout the region.
According to him, the examples of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have generated interest throughout Francophone Africa and will encourage similar ways of thinking in other nations in the area. “I believe there will be one or two more regime changes between now and the end of the year.”
The presidents of Togo and Gabon, who have greatly benefited from connections to France, will be somewhat concerned about this. Both leaders acquired their positions of authority from their fathers, who exploited connections to France to crush uprisings and maintain a firm grip on power. In fact, with the exception of a five-month break in 2009 in Gabon, the Eyadema and Bongo dynasties have held the presidency in Togo and Gabon, respectively, without interruption since 1967.
France has a long history of relationships with its former colonies, which were often quite intimate. These relationships were characterised by close ties to numerous presidents in the “La Françafrique” management system used by France to run its former colonies. La Françafrique was a system of corruption and nepotism that allowed France to exercise a great deal of control over its former colonies, and it resulted in close relationships between French leaders and the leaders of its former colonies.
The situation in Togo and Gabon is being closely watched by the governments of both countries, according to Yabi. Given the present anti-French feeling in the region, “the specific move of leaning towards the Commonwealth may perhaps bring some favour to the Togolese and Gabonese government.” However, given the young generation’s extremely unfavourable opinion of France, it is uncertain whether this will be enough to sway public opinion.
This story was written by Francess Chisom and Edited by Ericson Mangoli