Procession of African troops to mark independence from France cynical
and tactless, say critics
Lizzy Davies in Paris
Wednesday July 14 2010
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/13/france-sarkozy-bastille-africa-colonialism
Half a century ago, from the desert plains of Mauritania to the
forests of Madagascar, a wave of independence movements swept across
French-speaking Africa and saw the birth of new nations that hoped to
free themselves forever from the yoke of colonialism.
Tomorrow, as the centrepiece of Bastille Day celebrations dreamed up
by Paris to mark the 50th anniversary of its farewell to empire,
troops from 13 of those countries will march down the Champs Elys?es
alongside their French military counterparts.
But instead of the dignified occasion the government had envisaged,
the ceremony has been attacked as cynical and tactless by some
observers who see it as an unseemly display of France's continuing
interference in Africa.
Nicolas Sarkozy was forced to defend himself against accusations that,
by emphasising France's role in the events of 1960, he was indulging
in an unpalatable form of "colonial nostalgia".
"This is a complete misinterpretation," said the president, stressing
the "injustices and errors" of the colonial era at a lunch for the
heads of state of 12 former colonies. "The aim of this meeting is
therefore not to celebrate your independence ? you can do that very
well yourself," he added. "It is to celebrate the strength of the
links which history has woven between our peoples. And the strength of
this meeting is to build together our future."
In keeping with this spirit of contrition, Sarkozy announced that
France would raise the pensions of African veterans who fought under
the tricolore in the 20th century to the same level as those of French
nationals. The move, which will benefit thousands of former soldiers
living overseas, had been expected since May, when the constitutional
council ruled that the disparities between veterans of different
nationalities living in the same country were unjust.
But, while Sarkozy might be hoping the gesture will dispel concerns
about Wednesday's unprecedented procession, he would be wrong.
Objections have been made repeatedly in Africa and France.
"The 50 years of independence is our anniversary, not France's," Ivory
Coast's ambassador to Paris, Pierre Kipr?, told the magazine Jeune
Afrique, in an explanation of why his president, Laurent Gbagbo, had
refused to attend the Bastille Day events. "It is not up to it to
organise it for us; it is tactless of it to do so."
While Gbagbo's snub was largely due to a mutual frostiness between the
two countries over his postponement of elections, the comments
nonetheless reflect the resentment of those in Africa who feel France
should keep its distance.
French critics, meanwhile, have focused their objections on what they
say is the return to the bad old days of Paris's meddling in the
continent for its own cynical reasons.When he came to power, Sarkozy
promised a break with the past policies of "Francafrique", vowing a
healthier relationship between the colonial-era master and its former
subjects. Three years on, however, many critics say little has
changed.
Last week Jean-Christophe Rufin, France's recently departed ambassador
to Senegal, unleashed an unusually outspoken attack on this failure.
"I came in with a simple contract. We were told ? there is going to be
a complete change in our African policy. Francafrique was over," he
told French radio. "Clearly ? you can see that it hasn't happened."
The heads of state of 12 countries ? Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
Congo, Gabon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Central African Republic,
Senegal, Chad and Togo ? were welcomed today (TUES) at the Elys?e
Palace. Ivory Coast's defence minister attended in place of Gbagbo,
while the disputed leader of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, was not
invited. Malagasy troops will, however, join the parade in Paris.
guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2010
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