Echoes of powers: Francafrique and the future of Africa

By Evarn

_“There is no such thing as good or evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it”_ – Lord Voldemort (JK Rowlings, HP)




After World War 2, a new world order was constituted by the “allied powers”; The US, UK, France, China and Russia. The so called “axis powers” which comprised Germany, Ottoman empire, Italy and Imperial Japan had just been defeated after years of brutal warfare, the kinds of which humanity had never experienced before. New institutions were formed including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the likes, all under control of the allied victors. African boundaries were redrawn, colonies belonging to the defeated powers were awarded to the victors, not minding indigenous tribal and ethnic similarities or differences.

As the tide of the new world swept in, it became obvious that African colonies would not remain subservient for much longer, agitation for independence swept through the black continent. Colonies gained their independence either through war or dialogue. Colonial powers like Britain, Belgium, Italy, France and Spain who had continuously milked the continent of its wealth and natural resources for centuries began to reluctantly relinquish totalitarian control of their colonies.

For decades, France had ruled its overseas territories though its policy of “assimilation”; what this entailed was a systemic introduction of French culture, language, currency, education, and military doctrine into its African subjects, in effect, French culture gradually eroded traditional African customs in francophone territories, and those countries became more of French than Africans. This later became the template for the political manipulation and interference in internal affairs of francophone countries after “independence”.

As the clamour for independence increased on the African continent, France under President Charles de Gaulle, aided by Jacques Foccart, a french businessman and close confidant, convened a “colonial pact” involving 14 francophone countries; in exchange for independence, francophone countries were mandated to domicile 65% of their foreign currency reserves in the Bank of France, another 20% was to be kept with France for financial liabilities “inflicted upon” France during colonial rule, and also francophone countries were to pay colonial taxes to France for infrastructure built by France during colonial rule, not to mention the fact that the CFA franc, the official currency used in all francophone countries is issued by the Bank of France. To pave the way for the acceptance and institutionalization of this pact, de Gaulle developed a network of French and African politicians and businessmen who were placed in positions of power and sufficiently bribed to allow free pursuance of French interest. This network was tagged “francafrique”. French masonry began to spring up all over francophone countries, this was made easy due to African traditional practices of native masonry, like the “Ogboni” practiced amongst the Yorubas of Nigeria. Many leaders and politicians of francophone countries became initiated into Grand lodges and pursued the interests of their Masonic orders, which inadvertently, were French interests.

The French neocolonial stance has since been a backbone for corruption, nepotism and underdevelopment in francophone Africa. This policy has been sustained through a vicious cycle of coups, assassinations, bribery, and espionage carried out by France over the decades. The most prominent victims that comes to mind are Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso who was deposed and murdered by his best friend Blaise Campaore under orders from France, President Ange-felix Patase who was murdered in the French-backed coup that installed General Francois Bozize into power in the Central African Republic; it is interesting to note that out of 67 coups in 26 African countries over the past 50 years, 61 occurred in francophone countries. Today, African resources continues to be plundered under the neocolonial supervision of France, according to the colonial pact, France has unhindered access to raw materials like cocoa, timber, uranium and gold which are classified as “strategic assets”, francophone countries are not permitted to sell to any other country of the world except the commodity is not needed by France and French companies are awarded contracts without fair bidding process, the former President of Cote D’ivoire Laurent Gbagbo learnt the hard way when he insisted on awarding the Abidjan bridge to a Chinese company.
It is no wonder a former President of France, Jacques Chirac said, “without Africa, france will smoothly go down to the rank of third world country”, another former French president, Francois Mitterand also corroborated the stance when he admitted that, “If there was nothing like Africa, France would not have had any history in the 21st century”. Why will they not feel that way when France makes about $600 billion from Africa annually?, when France holds more than $60 billion of francophone Africa's treasury in reserve?.

Even with the advent of the 21st century, the wanton plundering of African resources by foreign powers has continued unabated, but this time, it is not through colonial mandate but through the use of neocolonial institutions. African leaders who protest this wicked trend are often either bribed, silenced or frustrated out of power, gory examples like Patrice Lumumba, a former president of Zaire whose death was sanctioned by Belgium to install Mobutu Sese Seko who became one of the most corrupt African leader to have ever lived. Even Nigeria has not being spared in the indiscriminate rape of Africa; during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, IMF policies were introduced in the Structural Adjustment Programme(SAP) under the aegis of liberalizing the Nigerian market, those policies sparked the great decline of Nigeria’s economic stability and an astronomical devaluation of the naira.

Hence, there is need for a new world order, one that will feature a strong Africa. An Africa where poverty is drastically reduced, and everyone can afford to go to school. An Africa that is capable of protecting her resources and projecting her interests. An Africa that will practice less of religion and more of science. An Africa that will rule the world.

Nigeria is Africa’s hope for greatness, we are the future of this continent, and it isn’t about the population or oil or being the 20th largest economy in the world. Nigerian corporations are now dominating African markets, companies like Dangote Group have succeeded in penetrating francophones markets and challenging French giants like Lafarge. Globacoms, UBA, Zenith, Forte oil and the likes are opening new frontiers in Africa and the Middle East. The Nigerian entertainment industry is making waves all over the continent and overseas. These, to mention a few, are testaments of the potential of the Nigerian federation. The potential to break the malicious grip of foreign powers that are bent on leeching Africa dry. But to lead Africa to greatness, Nigeria must first be great. It is a necessity, lest Africa get plundered to desolation.

Great read bro...

There is only one surest way to overcoming these predators. Move closer to Russia. Sign up with BRICS & The Collective Security Treaty (CSTO). Have Russia build atleast 2 military bases in your Country.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh1DAFUsTUs

Mother Russia is the only Country that has never done any evil to Afrika.

I shed tears for Afrika when I think about her future - very bleak.

Akathriel:
There is only one surest way to overcoming these predators. Move closer to Russia. Sign up with BRICS & The Collective Security Treaty (CSTO). Have Russia build atleast 2 military bases in your Country.

Mother Russia is the only Country that has never done any evil to Afrika.

I shed tears for Afrika when I think about her future - very bleak.

Accepting a foreign military base in Nigeria would be a grave mistake.Moreover,the Russians do not give a hoot about Africa.

Military partnership with them is not a bad idea though.

Though l am against colonisation but it's better British colonized Nigeria than France.

If U find out no French colony is a better nation because of the wicked and useless pact signed.

Hmm AFRICAN NATION is seen as a business ventures,what a mess.