Since 1960, year when most African states were granted independence, almost all had or have special links with their former colonial masters. And where such was/is still apparent, is in French-speaking Africa. The extraordinary ''cordial relationships'' binding France and her former African possessions, was/is so strong that, it has produced a byword in French known as Francafrique. For Francafrique, has been subject of wild speculations and has remained a magnet and inspirations of several books, on the real or imaginary excesses of the special relationship that links/linked French-speaking Africa to France. Whether Francafrique is the cause or not of all the obstructions of development, economically or politically in most French-speaking African countries today, is entirely another debate.

France's Special relations with French-speaking Africa

However, what is really certain is that, France and her former African colonies do entertain special relations in two fields: economic and diplomatic. And these started during colonialism and continued well after independence. On the economic dominant, France is today, as she has always done, serving as surety to French-speaking African countries in international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Furthermore, 16 French-speaking African countries located south of the Sahara are using the CFA Franc, as currency, and the said currency, is guaranteed by the French treasury and thus attached to the Euro, the pan European currency used in 13 countries of the Euro zone.

Even though the North West African countries of: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia or even the West African state of Mauritania which were all France's former colonies are now using their own indigenous currencies, France still chaperon's them economically and also lobbies hard on their behalves within the European Union, for these states, to receive financial supports and other gratuities from Brussels. In the area of Diplomacy, French-speaking African states located in sub-Saharan Africa and those of North West Africa, generally known as by their Arabic appellation as Maghreb, are the enormous shoulders onto which France stands, besides her seat at UN Security Council, to talk boldly to the world.

But there is another strange relationship that binds France with her former African colonies. The strange relationship, are the rapports that French-speaking African head of states are having with France's political parties. It is even rumoured that, some or most French-speaking African leaders, at every presidential or even legislative elections, that takes place in France, do choose and finance candidates and their political parties. However, rumours remain one, if they are not denied or confirmed by those through whom the rumour ignited.

But Gabon's president Albert Bernard Bongo Odimba (aka Omar) has confirmed the rumours in a conversational book written in collaboration with a French journalist called Airy Routier ( Omar Bongo, Blanc comme Negre, Grasset,2001). But why are French-speaking African leaders interested in French politics to the point of financing candidates at legislative or presidential elections? It is simply because, most French-speaking African leaders are French by nationality and secondly, the political future of most French-speaking African leaders are determine not by people they are governing but by he/she who is elected president in France.

In 1960 for example, most French-speaking African leaders were Gaullists and in 1981, when the second ideological power alternation and president took place in France, French-speaking African leaders who could not metamorphosed to become Socialists as Francois Mitterrand was, were simply overthrown. Musa Traore of Mali who was deposed from power in a Radio France International broadcast coup d'etat, because slow in readjusting his loyalty and it is a case in point on how, France has a preponderant role in her former colonies.

Now in 2007 as French presidential elections heats up so too are French-speaking African leaders heating up and making their choices. But only three French presidential candidates out of the 12 who are in the race are of interest to French-speaking African leaders. They are: Jean Marie Lepen of the National Front party, Nicholas Sarkozy the flag bearer of the out going ruling UMP party and Mrs Segolene Royal, the flag bearer of the parliamentary opposition Socialist party.

Zonal support and reasons: French-speaking North Africa

In France's former colonies of North West Africa: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, its leaders have already made their choices. Tunisia's despotic leader Ben Ali who uses Islamic scaremongering to justify his dictatorship, is supporting Nicholas Sarkozy, while Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika whose country has the largest African as well as none African immigrant population in France is openly rooting for Segolene Royal, this in spite all the placating tactics put in place by Nicholas Sarkozy to curry-favour Algerian immigrants in France and all so the Algerian government in Africa.

Morocco's dictator monarch Mohamed VI is supporting Nicholas Sarkozy the flag bearer of the out going ruling party, for he and his government fear that, the Socialists, through Segolene Royal, may cut the support that Morocco presently enjoys within French government and Press circles, thus paving the way for open support for the independence of Western Sahara that is occupied by Morocco since 1975.

French-speaking West Africa

In French-speaking West Africa: Senegal, Mali, Niger Republic, Benin, Ivory Coast Togo, Burkina-Faso, Mauritania and Guinea Conakry, it is a mix bag of choices. Senegal's Abdulaye Wade, who is a liberal, but whose citizens and those of Mali have become euphemism of all what is bad about immigration in France, in particular under Mr Sarkozy's tenure as Minister of interior, is openly in support of the French Socialist candidate Segolene Royal. Despite the fact that in Ivory Coast, formerly the most prosperous French-speaking African state, her president, Laurent Gbagbo, is a Socialist, he is supporting Nicholas Sarkozy and not Segolene Royal, who is a Socialist and both are members of the International Socialists movement.

Why? Simply because, Mr Gbagbo is complaining that, besides Mr Xavier Emmanueli (French socialist MP), the French socialist party did not support him and his government in the battle that he and his country had with Jacques Chirac and Dominique De Villepin. It is even rumoured that, the triangular conflict, spilled over into an indirect support of the pair of Chirac and De Villepin to the Ivorian rebellion that began in 2002 and has since split the country into two. The other reason why Gbagbo is supporting Nicholas Sarkozy is purely economic.

For Sarkozy’s friend Martin Bouygue is an important investor in Ivory Coast and Gbagbo will need his investments and others to rebuild his country’s economy, since a peace deal has just been signed between his government and the North rebellion. Meanwhile in Mali, President Amadou Toumani Toure is no doubt in support of the French Socialist's flag bear Segolene Royal.

CEMAC region or French-speaking Central Africa

Whereas in the predominantly French-speaking section of Central Africa also known as the CEMAC region, that is made up of : bilingual Cameroon ( English and French) Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon and Spanish-speaking Equatorial Guinea , all but two countries are in support of Nicholas Sarkozy. General Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbazogo, president of Spanish-speaking and oil rich Equatorial Guinea is not interested in French presidential elections. For his political life does not depend on the occupant of the Elysee palace, more, he is now presiding over the third largest sub-Saharan African Oil reserves with a daily production of about 500 thousands barrels.

The second president in the region who is interested, in French presidential elections but who is not supporting Sarkozy is Paul Biya of Cameroon. While Mr Mbazogo is not worried about who will occupy the vacant seat of president of the Republic in France nor the colour of his/her political party, most of his colleagues in the CEMAC region are neck deep into the French presidential race. In the CEMAC region, Cameroon which has the largest population (16 million) and is the largest economy, would have naturally have played the leading role in deciding who in France's presidential race will gain and get the support of the sub region.

But Cameroon's influence in the sub-region has whittled to the benefit of the current regional leader: Gabon (1 million inhabitants) and the new assertive challenger in the region that snubs Cameroon is Equatorial Guinea (500 thousands). To further ignore Cameroon, all leaders of the region, (except Paul Biya of Cameroon) under the wing of Gabon's president Mr Bongo, have decided to support Nicholas Sarkozy. And two Wednesdays ago, Mr Bongo and his son-in-law Colonel Denis Sassou Nguessou, President of the Republic of Congo were in Paris to assist the wife of the first who was to under a second brain surgery.

During their stay, the son in law accompanied by his father in law received Mr Sarkozy at the formers Avenue Foch residence located at posh 16th arrondisement or district in Paris. It is certain that, both presidents gave their own contributions in cash and also those of Generals Francois Bozize of Central African Republic and Idriss Derby Itno of Chad to Nicholas Sarkozy. It is their own way to support the right wing candidate, in the current presidential elections and assure themselves that, in case he wins, their reign won't be ruffled. But as one never knows, they always take the pains to fuel the engines of other candidates in such a way that, should any happens to win, he/she will have a guilty conscience, should he/she wants to play rough.

Cameroon's own unique choice

Even as the rest of the CEMAC region are rooting for Nicholas Sarkozy, the genius of the French right wing party, one man in the region has decided to branch out and go lonesome as usual. The odd man is Paul Biya of Cameroon. Cameroon's president has decided to support Jean Marie Lepen, leader of the French Far right National party. His apologists have given reasons of his ignoble choice, but I will spare you with the content.

Paul Biya has not decided to play discreet, he has in full bloom decided to welcome Mrs Jany Lepen, the wife of the chair of the French National Front party in Cameroon. Although Mrs Lepen was received by the de facto vice president of Cameroon Mrs Chantal Biya, and her visit was put under the auspices of Humanitarian affairs, it is certain that, during her stay, she met with the head of state and also received financial support plus the inevitable photos for posterity, which will be used as a weapon of mass disinformation, by the Far right to silence all those calling the movement racist. The irony with the reception and support given to Jean Marie Lepen by Paul Biya is that, Cameroonians and all other Africans are not welcomed in the type of France championed by the National Front party, that, Jean Marie Lepen is the long standing chair.  

It seems Jean Marie Lepen has changed from being an assertive xenophobic politician to an ordinary French politician. At least, that is what some of his defenders and enthusiasts are claiming. If he (Jean Marie Lepen) has or could change, then a leopard would also change its spots. The political choices of French-speaking African leaders or in this specific case, betting on leaders in French elections are like love, they are strange and enigmatic. However, choices made because of love or in this case, politics, are dictated by many intricate interwoven determinants, which are all almost impossible to explain.

Robot  # 1 | 29.04.2007 08:56

Since 1960, year when most African states were granted independence, almost a...Read the full article.