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« All the better to eat you, my child »
France has just celebrated the 14th of July, its National Commemoration Day. On this occasion troops of 13 African countries opened the military parade on the Champs Elysées. The evening before President Nicolas Sarkozy had invited the leaders of 12 of the 14 former French colonies to dinner, to mark the anniversary of their 50 years of independence. This was however seen as controversial way of paying tribute to the relationship between France and Africa.
In Dakar Francis Kpatindé from Bénin turned down the volume on his television set when the 13 African nations paraded in Paris to celebrate the French National Day. "Who are they trying to fool ?", he asked, shocked by the way in which the French hailed the independence of its former colonies.
Mr Kpatindé is the spokesman of an international organisation based in Dakar and expressed his view in a strictly personal capacity. He did not like to see African Heads of State, in power since 23 or 28 years, surround the French president at the grandstand.
"Most of the African leaders who were invited to Paris do not represent an Africa of hope, enlightenment or democracy. Many of them are former army officers, who have exchanged their military garb for a presidential suit. Where are the African intellectuals, research scientists and artists ?", he asked.
The humanitarian association « Survie » (Survival) goes even further.
« France, which looted Africa and used its people as a manpower pool, has held on to its policy for 50 years, by all its means, to the detriment of the countries concerned, so that many African families have had to emigrate in order to feed their families.
In addition, there is the export-geared European farm policy and the re-colonisation of land, which destroy local production, generate climate warming and compel peasants to abandon their farms and emigrate to Europe. »
When I saw how pleased the African statesmen seemed to be at being received by President Sarkozy, the Economic Partnership Agreements which France and its European partners are trying to impose on various African regions, came to my mind.
I recalled that 4 years ago, in July 2006, a French parliamentary report (the Lefort report) gave us hope that a change of policy was under way (as regards the Economic Partnership Agreements - finally some good news !).
The report states :« A threat looms over sub-Saharan Africa and other regions of the planet, the most destitute ones: The threat of completely free trade. This is the case with the Economic Partnership Agreements that are being negotiated between the European Union and the 77 ACP nations (Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific).
These vast and complex trade talks were due to have been concluded by 2007, outside the realm of parliaments. Their aim is to liberalise trade between the 25 ( today 27) rich EU countries with an GDP of 22 600 € / inhabitant and the poor ACP states, where the average GDP/inhabitant is only 424€. »
In spite of this warning, nothing has changed for the better. On the contrary, Europe is becoming increasingly arrogant. It makes me think of little Red Riding Hood, who - believing she was speaking to her grandmother - said to the wolf: « You have such big teeth Grandma » To which the wolf in disguise replied: « To eat you all the better, my child !» I went on to imagine that President Sarkozy, while being thanked by his guests for his invitation, was thinking to himself along the same lines : « All the better to feast on you, my children »
Koudougou, July 14th 2010
Maurice Oudet
Director, SEDELAN |
