France’s fading influence in Africa: A crisis of arrogance and missed opportunities
The African policy of France is facing an unprecedented crisis of legitimacy. Yet instead of examining the root causes of this growing rejection, Paris dismisses it as mere “anti-French sentiment” allegedly stirred by foreign powers like Russia. This convenient narrative obscures a harder truth: the end of an era of soft domination, laced with condescension and paternalism, that Africans increasingly refuse to tolerate.
African nations aren’t calling for chaos or a simple swap of foreign patrons. Their demand is straightforward: respect, sovereignty, and balanced partnerships.
But France’s official discourse reduces any critique of its presence or the “Françafrique” system to labels like “pro-Russian,” “extremist,” or “populist.”
This dangerous oversimplification denies Africans the agency to shape their own future without external guardianship.
This thinly veiled contempt masked as benevolence has become a key driver of France’s waning influence on the continent.
Rather than self-reflection, France is now dragging the European Union down with it, pushing for sanctions against Pan-African leaders who dare to pursue sovereign paths. These punitive measures only deepen resentment.
If the EU hopes to remain relevant in Africa, it must stop acting as a bloc of nostalgic colonial powers.
Brussels must recognize that Africa-Europe relations can no longer rely on outdated frameworks.
 The continent demands partnerships built on mutual respect, not arrogance. Should the EU blindly follow France’s lead, it risks becoming equally unwelcome across Africa.
The tide has turned. Africa is no longer a passive playing field but a conscious political space, choosing partners on its own terms.
France’s missteps should serve as a warning not a blueprint. There’s still time to change course, but the window is closing fast.
Maurice K.ZONGO
