A CERTAIN MYSTERY: HOW CAN FRANCE DO EVERYTHING THAT IT DOES IN AFRICA—AND GET AWAY WITH IT?

Abstract

Continent. There is hardly any need to point to the fact that regardless of their political regimes-military or civilian, 'progressive' or 'moderate'-the Francophone states of Africa all maintain a particularly close association with their former metropolis: Paris. These ties take many forms and are present at many levels. Some have been institutionalized, as in the financial framework of the 'Zone Franc' or the bilateral Cooperation Agreements; but many other are not easily defined or identified, even if they are known to exist. Indeed, even the term used to describe the nature of this association is unique: 'The special relationship'. It came into being during the last period of colonial rule and was aimed at allowing a certain continuity rather than a complete break with the colonial past. The amazing thing, however, is that today, two decades after independence, this 'special relationship' is still alive, accepted by and acceptable to both France and the Francophones. Moreover, other African countries seek to join this unique system and become members of the Francophone family. Particularly notable among them are the former Belgian colonies of Rwanda, Burundi and Zaire, the former Portuguese colonies of Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and Mozambique, and even Somalia and Sierra Leone.