The first Fugger we know was the name of HansThey are provided by involuntary creditorsSix months later Neelie Kroes is revengeThe negotiation and dialogue are far from their fortA strong demand of the unions but not employersPrudence selectivity lack of confidenceWhat is important is the order of magnitudeA French couple on two is equipped with a computer370 billion yuan 1100 billion dollars of loans7 additional cents per litre of sansplomb and 8Nicolas Sarkozy, Jacques Chirac and many other political leaders are today found in Libreville for the funeral of Omar Bongo who, for forty-two years at the head of Gabon, was the pillar of the complex relationship between the France and its former African colonies. The funeral of the leader who was installed in 1967 to power by Jacques Foccart, the first "Mr Africa" of General de Gaulle, and who, since 1967, had forged close ties with all the Presidents of the Fifth Republic without exception, sign final death of Françafrique By opting for a "break" Presidency, President Sarkozy was very much committed to put an end to the practices of his predecessors, therefore the Françafrique, this neologism invented by the Ivorian President Houphouët-Boigny in 1973, but that especially symbolized an obscure form of neocolonialism.
Without question Nicolas Sarkozy initiated a turning point. But there are limits to the rupture. The first announced change is military. The France is committed to no longer play the "gendarmes of Africa" by coming to the aid of the leaders of Africa francophone, in exchange for funding sometimes, discreet, of French politicians. The white paper on defence and national security 2008 provides the renegotiation of agreements of defence which had been "at a historical time, the end of decolonization" with eight African countries. These agreements, which many clauses remained secret, allowed to appeal to the French forces for the defence, Interior and exterior of one of the signatories.
At the same time, the France has reduced its military permanent presence of 30,000 soldiers in the early 1960 less than 10,000 deployed on seven "poles" currently (Djibouti, Senegal, Gabon, Chad, Côté d'Ivoire, Central African Republic and border Chad for Darfur). The white paper planned to reconfigure around two large poles, facade, Atlantic and East of the continent and to maintain forces in the area of the Sahel. But the arbitrations are not easy. If the base of Abidjan should be closed, Libreville and Dakar would be maintained.
But the change is the more net economically. Voluntarily or involuntarily, the divestment of companies has already started and the hexagonal, as presence pointed out "The diplomatic world" (1), now boils down to "medium to large groups 20". Broadly, note an information report on "the politics of the France in Africa" of the National Assembly (2), completed last fall, because Africa is today "perceived as a marginal market" to Asia. Also because French officials have been slow to take the measure of the profound change in Africa. "Africa, lately, more moved than the French perspective on Africa", and note the Member Jacques Remiller.
The other reason is that French politics is hardly readable. Commentators in Africa have continued to oppose the speech of Dakar from President Sarkozy in July 2007 on "African man" out of the story to its commitment in February 2008 in Cape Town to a "refounding" of relations. This reduction of the presence and its French hesitations are not without consequences. Actors such as China, the United States, the India even the Brazil increase in sub-Saharan Africa, taking advantage of this relative vacuum. "China buried Françafrique", highlighted two journalists, Serge Michel and Michel Motorfluggruppe, in a recent book (3). Withdrawal is not only economic but political. Omar Bongo, highlighted, loved the France, but he did also ten official travel in China.
"Françafrique is dead!" Long live the Chinafrique "It is not there. Paradoxically the vow of Socialists in January 2008 to sign his "death Act" has not always been fulfilled. A vow which, under the pressure of Omar Bongo, had cost its portfolio of Secretary of State cooperation. As the breakdown by candidate Sarkozy always passes through the introduction of greater transparency in the political, military and economic relations between the France and the African. Parliamentary commission Remiller claimed, cautiously, "strengthening of the role of Parliament in the control" of the African policy of the France and the establishment of a genuine partnership. Which would imply abandonment, real, of the "reserved area" in the matter of the Elysee Palace.
But there is another signal to give to bury the Françafrique, of a judicial nature. Will the French courts follow the complaint of the NGO Transparency International and the Sherpa association on the Heritage France of Denis Sassou-Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea and Omar Bongo Failure is not yet won. In the meantime, the role of the France in francophone Africa, him, although tends to decrease.
