FRENCH POLICY IN AFRICA 1960-1980: A CASE STUDY IN NEO-COLONIALISM

FRENCH POLICY IN AFRICA 1960-1980: A CASE STUDY IN NEO-COLONIALISM

Abstract:

AS a direct consequence of the Second World War, France and other colonial powers began the process of releasing their colonies to independence. In doing so, however, the French leaders, notably under President Charles De Gaulle, took steps to ensure that the metropolitan power did not lose out completely. They did so by introducing the so-called Loi Cadre, which is a regime of measures calculated to maintain France’s hold on the former colonies. It consisted, among other things, of a referendum in the colonies to decide on their continued association with France after independence. This led to the formation of the French Community of States, a kind of Commonwealth, through which France hoped to exercise control over the economic, political and defence policies of the newly independent countries, facilitated by treaties and accords. Most importantly, the newly independent countries were to remain within the franc zone, even though the African franc was devalued about 100% against the French franc. Defence treaties ensured France’s control over the manning, training and utilisation of the African armed forces in accordance with the overall interest of the French Community. The economic and trade agreements saw to it that France had the first priority to import African raw materials and to sell finished goods within the Community. Politically, periodic meetings of the Community’s Heads. of State helped to check any excesses and brought everyone into line in the formulation of general policies. In her bid to ensure the defence of her perceived interests in Africa, France went outside her sphere of influence into the English-speaking African countries, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Rhodesia and South Africa, to either cause confusion or promote close relations in the field of commerce, industry and culture. France’s role in the Nigerian Civil War was calculated to destablise the country which was seen by the French as a threat to their own influence in the Sub-region. Relations with Rhodesia under Ian Smith, and with apartheid South Africa, revealed the opportunistic, albeit selfcentred, nature of French foreign policy. Paris broke United Nations sanctions and employed all sorts of under-handed methods in order to protect her trading, scientific and investment interests in the two countries. Whilst ignoring Black African opinion on this score, the French also pursued a pseudo-racist policy at home, where deliberate efforts were made to encourage the repatriation of Africans from France. The policy of assimilation which was vigorously pursued during the colonial days was now doomed to failure. The various methods used by French leaders to control and influence the economic, political, security and cultural policies of their former colonies as fully discussed and analysed in this study constitute the phenomenon we call neo-colonialism.

FRENCH POLICY IN AFRICA 1960-1980: A CASE STUDY IN NEO-COLONIALISM