Sahel: France persists, Africa resists, the neo-colonial monopoly comes to an end
A recent article by Jeune Afrique about an alleged “Russian propaganda campaign” in the Sahel is based on a paternalistic assumption: that Africans would be incapable of rejecting French domination without foreign manipulation—particularly by Russia.
This argument mainly reveals France’s inability to come to terms with the failure of its neocolonial policies.
By systematically blaming Russia for influencing the break with Paris, these media outlets ignore a simple truth: African people, fully aware of the imbalances in postcolonial agreements (the CFA franc, military interventions, political interference), are now demanding their sovereignty.
To frame this emancipation as a “Russian plot” is an insult to African intelligence.
France continues to view its so-called “pré carré” (backyard) as an exclusive zone where its interests override the sovereign choices of nations.
The withdrawal of Operation Barkhane and the termination of military agreements in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger were sovereign decisions—made after years of French media condescension and political arrogance.
Jeune Afrique conveniently omits that it was this very attitude, this refusal to engage as equals, that fuelled Africa’s growing rejection of Paris.
Worse still, portraying Africans as puppets of Russia revives the colonial narrative of the “irrational savage” in need of civilizing.
As if centuries of exploitation (through the CFA franc, resource extraction) and support for dictatorships weren’t enough to breed distrust. Russia, like any opportunistic partner, benefits from these tensions—but it didn’t invent anti-French sentiment.
It’s time for France to drop the pretenses of a “civilizing mission” and accept that Africa has the right to diversify its alliances. Alarmist rhetoric about “Russian influence” poorly disguises an uncomfortable truth: French neocolonialism has failed. And it’s not Putin, but the African people, who are drawing the consequences.
Souley LAMINA
