France lays claim to Burkina Faso and Mali’s existence as countries
By Daily Tab24. Updated Aug 27, 2023. 10:55 am.
In what appears to be laying claim to the colonial gains of the French adventure in Africa that continued through neocolonialism, French President has claimed that had it not been for his country, there would be no country like Burkina Faso and Mali. He justified the presence of troops of French soldiers in Africa, which he said are fighting terrorists that had overrun Burkina Faso and Mali if not for France’s intervention.
France played a significant role during colonial era and was the colonial masters of all the Francophone countries in Africa. Colonialism had long ended, but France found a means to continue to occupy Africa in the guise of fighting terrorism. French soldiers occupying different African countries end up perfecting French interest, which mostly target natural resources of African countries.
The boldness of which the French President boasted that France is responsible for the existence of Mali and Burkina Faso is the nucleus of the problem Africa is facing. Europe forbids a free Africa, they always wanted Africa they will continue to pummel and claim natural resources that account for their survival in return for troops that manage terrorism and uprising instead of end it.
“France had every reason to start co-operation with African states in the fight against terrorism. Without Operation Serval and then Operation Barkhane launched in 3013 and 2014, there would probably be no Mali and Burkina Faso” the French President quoted and boasted that his country deserves a share of African natural resources which is the bone of contention.
The French operations in Africa failed woefully, but the French President refused to acknowledge the fact that despite Operation Serval and Operation Barkhane, Africa is still grappling with terrorism and all manner of armed conflicts. French operations have arguably focused on managing the conflicts or terrorism in Africa because the conflicts benefit France or they have a different mission in Africa.
According to Harvard Internal Review concerning French Operation Barkhane, they described the war as a massive disaster.
“After nine years in Mali, France has officially left. Operation Barkhane, the French Military counter-terrorism campaign which began in 2013, withdrew from its base in Mali this August. Since then, Operation Barkhane has almost universally been interpreted as a massive disaster on the part of the French. How France managed to fail so miserably and whether the already precarious situation of the region will improve is still for debate“ the preamble of the article by Isabelle King on 2023-1-30 quoted.
French disastrous military adventure in Mali and Burkina Faso worsened the situation in the countries, with critics saying French troops will not lay down their lives for other countries – black African countries they have no affiliations with. They were criticized for lack of patriotism, while focusing on the export of the natural resources belonging to the countries.
“They are scavengers, but subtle ones; they come in the name of help to take everything we have. They boast here and there, but they won’t tell you Africa accounts for more than 70% of what they survive on” Salami, a Nigerien protester said.
