Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Sorrow, tears and blood: France and its permanent colonies, By Toyin Falola

Hi toyin (and toyin)

A strong statement calling on france to withdraw from africa and assume accountability.

The general principles, stated in red, most would agree with. Some of the details of the argument i would quibble with.

I just read this piece in the Monde: https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2023/09/06/quand-sera-t-il-possible-de-considerer-que-les-coups-d-etat-africains-sont-avant-tout-l-affaire-des-africains-et-donc-leur-echec_6188143_3232.html

It argues that anti-french sentiment has led to the argument that france is responsible for all the possible ills in francophone countries. It has become the whipping boy, meaning that african leaders and people are not responsible for any of the ills in their countries.

I remember reading more than once moses ochonu arguing the opposite. If it is to be external actors that are responsible for ripping off africa's wealth, i would argue that the imf and world bank set up a neoliberal capitalist system that has become much more responsible than france in recent decades, perhaps 4 decades; that the EU is the powerhouse behind france now, it is no longer an age of neocolonialism as we saw in the 60s-80s.

I think the benefits of french involvement are underplayed; more importantly, i am dubious that the other colonial powers, and especially the u.k., should be let off the hook. Who armed south africa during all the years of apartheid, under labor as well as conservative govts, who fought to keep zimbabwe colonized, who slaughtered kenyans etc. 

I agree that the cabals of power and money in france were horrendous, and still have some roles, as in Total contracts. But i think it is important to ask what has been replacing french power and money. Russia is monstrous; china is replacing all the other money interests, and the question of benefit is way open. The dismissal of human rights by the pragmatics of china and russia is abominable, no matter whether western states are open to criticism of not.

Lastly, i have recently read a number of editorials in le monde calling for french withdrawal frrom africa, along the lines of toyin's argument. That should be seen as indicating an important shift now underway, as mbembe just argued.

I don't think anyone of significance in our field would dispute that claim.

Ken

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Cornelius Hamelberg <corneliushamelberg@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 3:58:04 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Sorrow, tears and blood: France and its permanent colonies, By Toyin Falola

 

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/624847-sorrow-tears-and-blood-france-and-its-permanent-colonies-by-toyin-falola.html 

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