As French President Emmanuel Macron intensifies diplomatic outreach across Africa, from Angola/South Africa to Kenya, a growing chorus of African intellectuals, activists and policy observers say, the continent may be witnessing not simply renewed cooperation, but the reconfiguration of old power structures, under modern language.
Among the most vocal critics, is Kenyan legal scholar and pan-African thinker PLO Lumumba, who argues that France’s evolving diplomacy under Macron, reflects a strategic effort to preserve geopolitical influence, as Paris loses ground in several former colonies in West and Central Africa. Speaking about the France-Africa summit in Nairobi, Lumumba framed Macron’s diplomacy as part of a larger contest for economic access, military positioning and political relevance, on a continent progressively central to global competition over energy, rare minerals, technology and trade routes.
But apart from the theories, an indepth question lies unfolding across Africa. The question is – can foreign partnerships can genuinely support African development, or are they reproducing dependency in more sophisticated forms?
There is a changing position of France in Africa. France’s relationship with Africa has long been shaped by the legacy of colonialism and the post-independence political network, often referred to as Françafrique. It is a system critics say, it allowed Paris to maintain influence through military alliances, economic controls and elite political relationships.
Historically, France retained military bases across several African states, while the CFA franc currency system, linked numerous West and Central African economies to the French treasury. In decades, Paris has positioned itself as both a security guarantor and economic partner in francophone Africa. However, this influence has weakened dramatically in recent years.
Military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have led to the withdrawal or reduction of French military operations. Public protests against French presence have intensified across the Sahel, with many young Africans accusing Paris of paternalism, resource extraction and failed security policies. In countries such as Senegal and Gabon, political tensions have further complicated France’s traditional alliances. Against this backdrop, Macron’s recent engagements in anglophone and lusophone African states, are being closely scrutinized.
To the supporters of France’s renewed outreach, the strategy imitates adaptation rather than domination. French officials are progressively emphasizing partnerships in green energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, education and entrepreneurship, instead of the overt military-heavy diplomacy associated with earlier decades. Nonetheless, a lot of people are arguing that the underlying objectives remain unchanged. Despite all, Nairobi is at the center of this geopolitical challenge.
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