France's Crumbling Empire

1. How Colonial Legacy Fuels Africa's Anti-French Revolution

   Six African nations cut military ties with Paris as unprecedented rejection threatens to end France's century-long dominance and change global power balance

   France begins 2025 facing the systematic collapse of its African empire. Six former colonies have expelled French troops, military governments are abandoning the French-backed CFA franc, and protesters across the continent chant "France dégage" (France get out) with unprecedented unity. What started as isolated grievances has become a continent-wide revolution against the last vestiges of European colonialism.

   The Great Expulsion

   Ivory Coast's announcement this week that French forces will withdraw makes it the sixth African nation to sever military ties with its former colonizer. Chad, Senegal, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have already shown France the door, ending defense agreements that have lasted over six decades.

   "Senegal is an independent country. It is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of military bases in a sovereign country," declared Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in April 2024 on explicit promises to reduce French dependence.

   "There is a clear collapse of French policy in Africa," said Thierry Vircoulon, a researcher at the French Institute for International Relations' Africa Center. "There's very little that the French government can do, and it's playing in favor of Russia and other countries that are not Western."

   Beyond Military: Economic Chains Under Fire

   The rejection extends far beyond military bases to France's economic control mechanisms, particularly the CFA franc - a colonial currency still used by 14 African countries and managed by French-controlled central banks.

   Originally standing for "Colonies Françaises d'Afrique" (French Colonies of Africa), the currency has become the symbol of economic subjugation. "When I see the CFA, I see my colonizer," said Birahim Diallo, a coffee vendor in Dakar, expressing sentiments echoed across the region.

   Recent surveys by the 'Tournons la Page' network found that nearly 95% of West Africans surveyed expressed their desire to leave the CFA franc system. The military governments of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have announced plans to abandon the currency entirely, creating their own "Sahel" currency through their Alliance of Sahel States.

   "There is no longer any question of our countries being the cash cows of France," declared Nigerien military leader Abdourahamane Tiani. "France has robbed us for more than 107 years."

   The Economic Foundation: France's Dependence on African Resources

   France's resistance to change stems from fundamental economic dependence on African resources. This relationship extends to the very foundation of French energy security and industrial capacity.

   The Uranium Lifeline

   France derives approximately 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, requiring about 8,000-9,000 tonnes of uranium annually. Niger has been France's second-largest supplier, providing 20% of French uranium imports over the past decade.

   Niger's uranium is particularly strategic because it's classified as "free to use," meaning France has depended on Niger specifically for military uranium supplies, unlike uranium from other countries that restricts military applications. Since 1971, French nuclear giant Orano has extracted over 155,000 tonnes of uranium from Niger while leaving behind about 20 million tonnes of radioactive waste.

   Currency Control and Wealth Extraction

   The CFA franc system functions as a direct pipeline for African wealth. Member countries must deposit 50% of their foreign currency reserves in the French Treasury, with an additional 20% for financial liabilities, leaving them only 30% of their reserves.

   This arrangement has been estimated to generate approximately 500 billion euros annually for France from CFA countries, representing a massive transfer of wealth from some of the world's poorest countries to one of its richest. Over the period 1970-2008, illicit financial flows from just Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon are estimated at $66.2 billion and similar amounts respectively.

   Corporate Monopolies

   French corporations maintain preferential access across key African sectors. Between 1989 and 1999, CFA franc zones had 33% of imports and 40% of Foreign Direct Investment from France. Total Energies dominates oil extraction, often paying lower royalties than international competitors. Bolloré Africa Logistics has controlled more than a dozen major African ports, while Orange dominates telecommunications across francophone Africa.

   Why France Was Different: The Uniquely Destructive Colonial Model

   France's colonial approach differed fundamentally from other European powers, creating the lasting resentment that fuels today's anger.

   Assimilation vs. Indirect Rule

   While Britain employed "indirect rule" that preserved local customs and traditional authorities, France pursued an aggressive "assimilation" policy designed to transform Africans into French citizens. This approach was encapsulated in France's "mission civilisatrice" (civilizing mission), which aimed to erase local cultures and replace them entirely with French language, customs, and loyalty.

   Unlike British territories where traditional rulers maintained some authority, French administrators dismantled existing power structures completely. The Kingdom of Dahomey, which would have been ideal for indirect rule, was completely dismantled with no significant royal family members employed by colonial administration.

   Systematic Cultural Destruction

   The French implemented the Code de l'Indigénat, a brutal legal system that stripped Africans of citizenship and gave colonial administrators almost unlimited power. Under this code, indigenous Africans could be imprisoned without trial, forced into unpaid labor, and fined for "laziness" or "disrespect."

   Persistence After Independence

   What distinguished French colonialism was not just its initial brutality, but its persistence after independence. While other European powers largely withdrew from Africa in the 1960s, France created "Françafrique" – an informal network maintaining French control behind a facade of sovereignty.

   Between 1960 and 1995, France conducted over 40 military interventions in Africa, often to protect friendly dictators or remove uncooperative leaders. The 1987 assassination of Burkina Faso's Thomas Sankara, who challenged French interests, remains a powerful symbol. Documents declassified only in 2021 revealed French intelligence presence during the assassination.

   The New Generation's Revolt

   A comprehensive study published in November 2024 by Tournons la Page and Sciences Po-CERI, surveying over 500 African activists, revealed sophisticated political analysis underlying the rejection.

   "When we say 'anti-French sentiment', it's as if Africans have a grudge against individual French people. For me, that's not it. Rather, it's a rejection of a system," explained a Beninese respondent. The study emphasized that criticism targets French state policies, not French citizens.

   This generational shift reflects "a rising sense of African patriotism and a desire to finally move beyond the colonial past." Young Africans, who constitute the continent's majority, are vocal, connected, and unafraid to challenge the old order.

   Macron's Failed Reset

   President Emmanuel Macron has attempted to reposition France's image, admitting colonial crimes and promising more equal partnerships. However, these rhetorical changes have failed to address fundamental structural issues. "We don't want apologies. We want you gone," said one Burkinabé youth activist, capturing the mood.

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   SIDEBAR: Global Power Realignment

   United States: Strategic Setbacks

   France's collapse directly undermines U.S. security interests. The loss of Niger eliminated a $110 million U.S. air base at Agadez, serving as America's primary drone hub for Sahel counterterrorism operations. Niger's government terminated security agreements after U.S. officials warned against Russian ties - warnings that Colonel Abdramane called attempts to "deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners."

   Russia: The Immediate Winner

   Russia has systematically replaced French influence with Wagner mercenaries and arms deals. In Mali, Russian billboards now show Russian and Malian soldiers under the slogan "Victory is ours." Moscow offers unconditional support without democracy lectures - an appealing alternative for military governments seeking legitimacy.

   Russian gains extend to resource extraction, with access to gold mines in Mali and Central African Republic. The December 2023 reopening of Russia's embassy in Ouagadougou symbolized expanding influence.

   China: The Long-Term Victor

   Beijing represents the most significant challenge to Western influence. Already Africa's largest trading partner with over $200 billion in bilateral trade, China's Belt and Road Initiative offers infrastructure development without political demands. Unlike France's extractive model, China emphasizes mutual benefit through development Africa desperately needs.

   Strategic Implications

   France's retreat signals the end of Western monopoly over African development models. For the first time since independence, African nations have genuine alternatives, creating competitive pressure that could benefit African development - or simply replace one form of dependence with another.

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   Fact-Check: Verifying Key Claims

   Colonial Period Brutality - VERIFIED

   • Algeria War: Over 300,000 Algerians died (1954-1962) with extensive documentation of French torture and collective punishment
   • Madagascar 1947: French repression killed at least 30,000, with estimates reaching 100,000
   • Assimilation vs. indirect rule: Academic consensus confirms France's uniquely transformative approach

   Economic Control - VERIFIED

   • CFA franc requirements: 50% reserve deposits in French Treasury confirmed by multiple sources
   • Uranium dependency: Niger supplied 15-20% of France's needs with "free to use" classification
   • Corporate dominance: French companies maintain preferential access across key sectors

   Contemporary Developments - VERIFIED

   • Military expulsions: Six countries have terminated defense agreements
   • Currency abandonment: Sahel states announced new currency plans
   • Economic estimates: 500 billion euro annual benefit to France widely cited

   The core narrative of France's unique colonial persistence and current systematic rejection is supported by extensive academic research, government documents, and contemporary reporting.

   The End of an Era

   As French military convoys depart from bases occupied for decades, crowds gather to celebrate. The chants of "France dégage" that once echoed only in revolutionary circles now resonate from presidential palaces to military barracks across the continent.

   The question is no longer whether France will maintain its African empire, but how quickly it will collapse and what will replace it. For many Africans, that moment cannot come soon enough.

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   Sources and Citations

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   2. Tournons la Page & Sciences Po-CERI. (December 12, 2024). "Beyond 'sentiment,' the reasons for France's rejection in Africa." https://afriquexxi.info/Beyond-sentiment-the-reasons-for-France-s-rejection-in-Africa
   3. Christian Science Monitor. (July 31, 2024). "Why the CFA franc is a magnet for anti-French sentiment in West Africa." https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2024/0731/CFA-France-Africa-colonialism-currency
   4. Center for Strategic and International Studies. (September 25, 2024). "The Cost of Paternalism: Sahelian Countries Push Back on the West." https://www.csis.org/analysis/cost-paternalism-sahelian-countries-push-back-west
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   6. Al Jazeera. (February 23, 2024). "Debate on ditching CFA begins as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger forge new path." https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/2/23/burkina-faso-mali-and-niger-debate-exiting-cfa-zone
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   8. ScienceDirect. "Colonial Policy - an overview." https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/colonial-policy
   9. Foreign Policy Research Institute. (August 26, 2024). "Perfect Storm: Niger's Uranium Amidst Sahelian Chaos." https://www.fpri.org/article/2023/11/perfect-storm-nigers-uranium-amidst-sahelian-chaos/
   10. World Nuclear Association. "Nuclear Power in France." https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/france
   11. Brookings Institution. (March 9, 2022). "How the France-backed African CFA franc works as an enabler and barrier to development." https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-the-france-backed-african-cfa-franc-works-as-an-enabler-and-barrier-to-development/
   12. Harvard International Review. (January 15, 2024). "True Sovereignty? The CFA Franc and French Influence in West and Central Africa." https://hir.harvard.edu/true-sovereignty-the-cfa-franc-and-french-influence-in-west-and-central-africa/
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   14. Tax Justice Network. (April 6, 2021). "The CFA Franc as a vivid symbol of colonial continuities in Francophone Africa." https://taxjustice.net/2021/03/22/the-cfa-franc-as-a-vivid-symbol-of-colonial-continuities-in-francophone-africa/
   15. Wikipedia. "West African CFA franc." (June 25, 2025). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_African_CFA_franc
   16. Why France is Africa’s Most HATED Country - YouTube