France’s interest in Burkina Faso is far from benign. Burkina is a strategic location for France, not only because of its resources but also because it sits at the heart of a region France has long sought to control under the guise of security and stability. Its independence from French influence threatens a wider unraveling of France’s grip on its former African colonies—an unraveling that has already begun.
Macron’s plea for "friendship" with Captain Ibrahim Traoré, while simultaneously proposing to establish military bases in Burkina Faso, is a blatant continuation of France’s post-colonial strategy in Africa: offering diplomatic niceties while maintaining economic and military control. Traoré’s sharp response—pointing out that France does not build military bases in its so-called "friends" in the West—exposes the double standard at play.
France has historically maintained a neocolonial stranglehold over its former African territories through a combination of economic dependency (the CFA franc), military presence, and political manipulation. When these countries gained nominal independence in the 1960s, France ensured it retained control through puppet regimes, military interventions, and covert destabilization efforts against leaders who sought true sovereignty. This system, often referred to as *Françafrique*, has been instrumental in keeping African nations under French influence while presenting a façade of independence.
But the tides are shifting. The recent expulsion of French forces from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signals a rejection of this historical dominance. When countries like Togo and Gabon opted to join the Commonwealth of Nations, I predicted this shift. It was a clear sign that more Francophone African nations were exploring alternatives to France’s sphere of influence—seeking partnerships with other global players rather than remaining bound to their former colonial master.
Burkina Faso’s path toward self-determination is part of a broader African awakening. If it continues on this trajectory, it will inspire other French-speaking African nations to fully reclaim their political and economic sovereignty. And France knows it. That’s why Macron is desperate to reassert influence—not through genuine friendship, but through the same old military and economic mechanisms that have kept these nations subservient for decades.
The question now is: Will France accept this reality, or will it resort to its usual playbook of interference? One thing is clear—Africa is watching, and the tide of history is not in France’s favor.
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