How France Destroyed this 14 African Countries

In 2019, a diplomatic dispute ignited between France and Italy, revealing a shocking accusation: France was accused of impoverishing 14 African countries. Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister, pointed to France’s historical control over the economies of these nations. Today, we dive into the depths of history to understand the truth behind these claims. Join us as we uncover the facts that shed light on how France’s actions have shaped the fate of these African nations.

In the aftermath of the Congress of Vienna, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s fate was sealed, France found itself at a crossroads. Stripped of its European and international power, a new chapter was about to unfold. The year 1870 marked a pivotal moment with the fall of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. This event dealt a final blow to France’s once-mighty world power status, prompting a strategic shift that would reshape history. It was during this tumultuous time that France’s attention turned to a new frontier: Africa. The continent, ripe with resources and opportunities, became a target for their ambitions.

Over the course of more than 300 years, France’s influence spread across western and northern Africa, governing over 20 countries, and encompassing a staggering 35% of the continent. Yet, this wasn’t a benevolent era – it was marked by enslavement, colonialism, and resource exploitation. Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Benin were among those that were transformed into harrowing slave trade centers, where human lives were commodified and the horrific legacy of the transatlantic slave trade played out. Ironically, the riches plundered from Africa fueled the construction of Paris’s iconic landmarks and structures, a stark reminder of the wealth amassed at the cost of African lives and resources.

The World Wars brought another layer of complexity. Many Africans fought for France with the hope of gaining independence in return. But this promise remained elusive, as uprisings seeking autonomy were ruthlessly suppressed. The colonial period persisted for five centuries, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Wars of independence, born from a desire to break free, cost the lives of over two million Africans who dared to challenge the colonial yoke.

Then came 1958, when a reluctant decision draped in the guise of “independence” emerged. The call for “independence” echoed through the colonies, but it came with a catch – independence on French terms. But Guinea’s Sekou Touré saw through the charade, seeking genuine independence for his people. Alas, it was a decision that would set off a cataclysmic chain of events. Touré’s audacity ignited fury among French colonial elites. And an act of historic fury saw them demolishing institutions and resources, erasing all traces of what they dubbed “benefits” from French colonization.

Schools, nurseries, public buildings, even the very fabric of the nation’s progress was systematically eradicated. Tractors were sabotaged, animals slaughtered, and sustenance poisoned. The French colonial elites were sending a chilling message to other colonies contemplating defiance. This act of fury had a profound impact. Fear began to seep into the

hearts of African elites across the 14 colonies. Sékou Touré, whose mantra was “We prefer freedom in poverty to opulence in slavery,” became a symbol of resistance, but few had the courage to follow in his footsteps.

In the midst of this turmoil, Sylvanus Olympio, the first president of the Republic of Togo, sought a different path. He was determined to break free from French dominion but recognized the perils of an outright rejection. Olympio’s approach was pragmatic. He refused to sign the colonial continuation pact proposed by De Gaulle. Instead, he negotiated a compromise—an annual debt to France in exchange for Togo’s perceived benefits from French colonization. But the scale of this so-called “colonial debt” was staggering, amounting to almost 40% of Togo’s budget in 1963. This financial burden rendered Togo’s fledgling independence unstable and fragile.

Determined to regain stability, Olympio decided to create Togo’s own currency, breaking away from the monetary system established by colonial France—the FCFA. This move symbolized true autonomy and an attempt to reshape Togo’s economic destiny. Yet, tragedy struck only days after the printing of Togo’s currency began. On January 13th, 1963, a squad of illiterate soldiers, reportedly backed by France, assassinated Sylvanus Olympio. His vision of a truly independent nation was cut short. Etienne Gnassingbe, an ex-French Foreign Legionnaire army sergeant, was reportedly involved in the hit, and with his death, Olympio’s vision for a self-reliant Togo died as well.

But, Olympio was not alone in its fight. Across Africa, leaders who dared to seek autonomy were met with tragic ends. In 1962, Modiba Keita, the first president of Mali, made the audacious move to withdraw from the French colonial currency FCFA. Recognizing the trap of the colonisation continuation pact, Keita’s hopes for a socialist economy and national development were crushed by a coup led by Lieutenant Moussa Traoré in 1968. The turbulent period of African nations striving for liberation became a breeding ground for French interference. Ex-French Foreign legionnaires were repeatedly deployed as instruments of coup d’états against elected African leaders. The likes of David Dacko, Maurice Yaméogo, and Hubert Maga fell victim to these orchestrated upheavals.

The numbers speak volumes. Over the past five decades, a staggering 67 coups occurred across 26 African countries, with 61% of them unfolding in Francophone Africa. This desperate, relentless effort by France to maintain control underscores the lengths to which they would go, regardless of the consequences.

Unseen documents reveal a chilling reality. The colonial pact signed between France and its former African colonies forged a chain that still binds today. It handed France control over economies, currency reserves, and strategic resources. Troops stationed with free passage, military training under French command – the colonial pact ensured France’s dominance. French businesses held monopolies in crucial sectors like water, electricity, ports, and energy. Import restrictions on foreign goods and mandatory minimum French imports crippled these nations’ economic sovereignty.

Behind closed doors, the clandestine “African Cell” operated, answering only to one person: the French president. This shadowy group orchestrated policies that left African nations dependent on the French economy and military might. The consequences of this dependency policy were clear: reliance on the French economy, military, and an unwelcome open-door policy for French private enterprise. The Francophone nations remained tethered to the chains of colonial control.

And so, as Italian Prime Minister Luigi rightly stated, France indeed stands as the West’s gendarme in Africa. Its power network, hidden but potent, traverses trade, banking, military, and politics.

Today, the Francophone countries remain ensnared by an unjust colonial tax, compensating for benefits that never materialized. Astonishingly, France retains almost $500 billion of African countries’ funds in its treasury annually, while African nations are denied access to their own wealth. Isn’t it baffling that the colonies are the ones compensating the colonizers?

The Central Bank of France shelters the national reserves of these countries, amounting to nearly $500 billion annually. A staggering 65% of their foreign currency reserves are held hostage by France, leaving only a paltry 15% for their use. The very funds that could fuel their growth and development are held out of reach, driving them to borrow from France at market rates. An astonishing irony emerges—France, a developed nation, funded by the very countries it once colonized. The wealth of Africa flows like a river, sustaining the growth of a distant land. Do the people of France truly fathom that their prosperity is rooted in Africa’s past and present suffering?

But it doesn’t stop there. France claims first dibs on the natural treasures that lay beneath the soil of its former colonies. This means that even if these African nations discover valuable resources, their hands are tied as France swoops in, leaving them with limited say over their own wealth. African nations aren’t free to forge new partnerships; they are ensnared in a cycle where French interests reign supreme. The power to shape destiny lies firmly in the hands of those thousands of miles away. Military might become a tool to preserve this intricate design. The right to offer training, deploy troops, and orchestrate interventions lies exclusively with France. Regimes that dare to dance to a different tune face the wrath of an old master. It’s a sinister puppetry with the fate of nations hanging in the balance.

The colonial currency, the CFA franc, also acts as an instrument of control. These nations have little control over their domestic inflation rates. It’s a carefully crafted mechanism that keeps them perpetually indebted, and France, true to form, retains the power to depreciate the currency whenever it serves their interests. The devaluation in 1994 is a prime example. The CFA franc was sliced in half, further shackling the ex-colonies with debt. They’re trapped in a cycle of borrowing, unable to escape the clutches of a so-called “colonial debt.”

Even the European Union has denounced this oppressive system. But France clings to it, draining a staggering $500 billion from African countries each year. It’s a vicious cycle that continues unabated. As we ponder African development, the truth is glaring. How can these nations prosper when they’re caught in this web of control? The funds they generate are funneled back to France, leaving them stuck in the quagmire of debt and dependency.

Past French presidents, from Jacques Chirac to François Mitterrand, have laid bare the uncomfortable truth. “Without Africa,” they admitted, “France would slide into the abyss of a third-world power,” and that “France’s history in the 21st century would be inconsequential without Africa.” But at what cost? As long as France treats Africa as a mere tool to enrich itself and bolster its global dominance, the continent’s growth remains stunted.

Yet, a glimmer of hope emerges. Today’s African leaders have awakened to their own power. They realize they need not bow to the West’s demands. Anti-French sentiments surge, igniting a fire that’s spreading across Africa. From the coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, to the recent tremors in Niger, African nations are breaking free. French military troops retreat from Mali and Guinea, and Niger may soon follow. Mali’s move to drop French as its official language is a seismic shift—an emblem of liberation.

But the journey to full freedom is far from over. The chains of colonialism run deep, and Africa’s path to autonomy is still under construction. In the years to come, changes will ripple through the continent, birthing a new era of sovereignty.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Share your thoughts in the comments below, and remember to follow for more stories of change and empowerment. Together, we forge a new legacy for Africa.