France's strategy towards its former African colonies is shaped by a combination of economic, political, and geopolitical interests. While many African countries gained their independence from France in the 1960s, France has maintained a significant influence over these nations, often referred to as "Françafrique."
1. Economic Exploitation: France maintains economic interests in its former colonies, primarily through continued control over key sectors such as banking, mining, and natural resources. This allows French companies to extract wealth from these countries and maintain a privileged economic position.

2. Currency Control: France ensures that its former colonies continue to use the CFA franc, a common currency that is linked to the Euro and is controlled by the French Treasury. This enables France to exert control over the monetary policies and limits the economic independence of these nations.

3. Military Influence: France maintains a significant military presence in Africa, through bases and military cooperation agreements. This allows France to intervene in the region, protect its economic interests, and exert influence in regional politics.

4. Neo-Colonial Influence: France often maintains close relationships with African political elites and exerts influence over their decision-making processes. This includes support for friendly leaders, facilitating state corruption, and intervening in political crises to maintain French interests.

5. External Meddling: France has been accused of interfering in the political affairs of its former colonies when it perceives a threat to its interests. This includes influencing or even orchestrating regime changes, manipulating elections, or supporting armed groups to ensure French-friendly governments remain in power.

While France argues that its engagement in Africa is driven by cooperation, development, and security concerns, critics argue that this strategy perpetuates neocolonial relationships, reinforces dependency, and undermines the sovereignty and development of African nations.

The legacy of France on its former African colonies is complex and has both positive and negative aspects. While France did contribute to the development of infrastructure, education, and healthcare in some of its colonies, there are also several negative legacies that have had lasting impacts. Some of these negative legacies include:
1. Colonial Exploitation and Economic Dependence: French colonial rule often involved the extraction of valuable resources from African colonies to benefit the French economy. This led to economic exploitation and dependence, as the colonies' economies were structured to serve the interests of the colonial power, often resulting in unequal trade relationships.
2. Cultural Suppression and Assimilation: France imposed its language, culture, and values on its African colonies, often suppressing local languages and traditions e.g. the Yorubas were split between Nigeria and the Benin Republic. This policy of assimilation aimed to create a French-speaking, Westernized elite, leading to a disconnection from traditional cultures and loss of indigenous knowledge.
3. Arbitrary Borders and Ethnic Tensions: The colonial powers, including France, drew arbitrary borders without considering ethnic, linguistic, or cultural realities. This has led to ethnic tensions, conflicts, and even civil wars in some cases, as different groups were forced to coexist within artificially drawn boundaries.
4. Political Instability and Dictatorships: The legacy of colonial rule contributed to political instability in many African countries. France often supported or propped up dictators who were willing to maintain French interests, even if it meant suppressing democratic movements and human rights e.g. Cameroun.
5. Economic Underdevelopment: Despite some investments in infrastructure, the colonial legacy left many African countries with underdeveloped economies. The focus on cash crops and raw material extraction hindered the development of diverse and sustainable economies, leaving many countries vulnerable to fluctuations in global markets.
6. Debt Burden: Some former colonies continue to carry a heavy debt burden from loans extended during the colonial era. These debts, often accrued to fund infrastructure projects benefiting the colonial power, can hinder economic development and limit resources available for social programs.
7. Environmental Degradation: Exploitative resource extraction practices during colonial rule contributed to environmental degradation, deforestation, and unsustainable land use practices in some regions, impacting local ecosystems and communities.
8. Legacy of Conflict: French colonial policies and actions have contributed to ongoing conflicts and tensions in certain regions, sometimes exacerbating existing divisions and grievances among different ethnic or religious groups.
It is important to note that these negative legacies are not unique to France; many other colonial powers left similar impacts on their former colonies. Additionally, post-colonial governments and various historical factors have also played roles in shaping the trajectories of these African nations. The legacy of colonialism continues to be a subject of academic, political, and social discourse, and efforts to address and overcome these legacies are ongoing.