How Françafrique still shapes French-African relations

“Françafrique” refers to the political, economic, and military networks France used to maintain influence over its former African colonies, a term popularized in 1998 by François-Xavier Verschave. The term was originally meant to convey a positive partnership but has evolved into a system of corruption, patronage, and informal networks.

This system rested on three pillars: military intervention pacts, economic control through mechanisms like the CFA franc and major corporations, and informal personal networks that bypassed official diplomacy. While recent French presidents have publicly denounced this model and promised a new “partnership of equals,” deep-seated mistrust persists.

For many Africans, the enduring presence of French troops and businesses suggests the old framework remains, even as competition from global powers like Russia and China grows. Today, Françafrique has become a lens for understanding lingering postcolonial influence and African perceptions of French involvement in the region.