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French Anniversary to Have Big African Presence

   Peter Clottey 13 July 2010
   French  President  Nicolas Sarkozy, left, welcomes Congolese President
   Denis  Sassou  Nguesso  upon  his arrival at the Elysee Palace, 26 Apr
   2020

Photo: AFP

   French  President  Nicolas Sarkozy, left, welcomes Congolese President
   Denis  Sassou  Nguesso  upon  his arrival at the Elysee Palace, 26 Apr
   2010 (file photo)

   The  director of African Studies at New Yorkās Columbia University has
   expressed  surprise  that  several  heads  of  state and government of
   French-speaking   African   countries  will  participate  in  Franceās
   anniversary celebrations Wednesday.

   History professor Mamadou Diouf said there are reasons to believe that
   the  African  leaders  want  to  re-open negotiations with France that
   began five decades ago that culminated in their independence.

   āIām  not  sure  that  I  really understand why African heads of state
   decided to join President (Nicholas) Sarkozy to celebrate the creation
   of  the  French Republic following the French revolution in 1789. But,
   Iām  quite sure that, for many of them, in particular the Francophone,
   itās an opportunity to re-link in some way with France,ā he said.

   Professor  Diouf  expressed  doubt the French-speaking African leaders
   have  the  political  capital  or  clout  to  give  them  leverage  in
   negotiating with the former colonial power.

   France  is  scheduled to hold a large military parade Wednesday at the
   Champs-Elysees as part of that countryās national day celebration with
   the participation of African troops this year.

   President  Sarkozyās government invited 14 armies from Franceās former
   African  colonies  to  celebrate  their 50^th independence anniversary
   during a military parade.

   The  14 countries expected to take part in the military parade include
   Benin,   Burkina  Faso,  Cameroon,  Chad,  Central  African  Republic,
   Congo-Brazzaville,  Gabon,  Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania,
   Niger, Senegal and Togo.

   Observers  say,  as  part  of Mr. Sarkozyās policies, France has begun
   re-negotiating defense contracts with its former colonies to draw down
   the French military presence on the African continent.

   Some critics have accused France of negatively influencing governments
   in  the  French-speaking  African countries and backing dictators with
   its military might, a charge Paris denies.

   Professor  Diouf said France should dissociate itself from influencing
   the political climate in its former colonies.

   āFrance  has  been  disengaging  militarily,  but for two reasons. The
   first  reason  is  geo-political. You no longer need physical bases to
   intervene. You can have your army wherever and be able to send it. The
   second  thing  is  that the direction of French political approach has
   changed.  Itās  no  longer an army which has to serve (an) exclusively
   political objective,ā Professor Diouf said.

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