“Africa is poor, and its people need aid.” This is a message echoed over and over again by journalists, charities and non-governmental organizations. European and American children are told to finish their food because there are poor starving children in Africa. But why has the continent become synonymous with poverty, when it is rich in natural resources. Why has Europe refused to invest in Africa with as much fervor as it sends aid? Western media has gone out of its way to entrench this image of Africa in the world. Of Africans always needing aid and help with its never ending problems until all the world feels is sympathy fatigue. Is Africa poor?
A Global Justice Now report found that in 2015, 203 billion dollars left Africa compared to the 161 billion that the continent received through loans and aid. But the amount of money that leaves Africa is never highlighted. And the ways in which money and resources are exploited from the continent to benefit foreign governments and companies is hidden.
In 2019, Italy’s deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio pointed out that France’s policy in Africa caused poverty and as a result the migration of Africans to Europe by dangerous sea routes. He is quoted as saying, “If we have people who are leaving Africa now it’s because some European countries, and in particular France, have never stopped colonizing Africa.” He claimed that if France did not have these African colonies it would not be among the largest world economies.
These are serious claims. But is there some truth to them? Has France impoverished its former colonies in Africa for its own economic gain? Di Maio isn’t the first to question France’s policies in Africa, and point out how self-serving and exploitative they are. For context, France was the second largest European colonizer in Africa after Britain. France mainly colonized countries in West Africa like Senegal, Mali, Niger, the Ivory Coast and many others. After these countries gained independence in the 1960s they still maintained strong political and economic relations with France. Europe has tried to paint its continued relationship with its former colonies as a altruistic move since Africans were building their nations from scratch; however the reality is that African nations had been looted and robbed of their natural resources by these colonial powers. Before colonialism Africa was rich, with natural resources and trade. After the theft of colonialism they were beginning at a deficit, with the odds stacked against them.
West Africa had trading systems which had developed over hundreds of years, before the French arrived in Africa. Gold was the main commodity, hence the term the gold coast. When the Europeans arrived they introduced the slave trade that depleted the population through slave raids. They also destabilized gold mining because the communities found it unsafe to mine their lands for fear of attacks. This started the unequal relationship that has continued through the colonial era and lasts to this day. European policies have destabilized the continent from the very beginning.
When the slave trade was abolished, Europe also started importing raw materials such as cotton from Africa. Cotton was labor intensive and Africa had a surplus of cheap labor. One of the ironies of the colonial era was that Africa’s largest export was raw cotton while its largest import was manufactured cotton. Through this paradigm, Europe made sure Africa did not develop a manufacturing ability so they had to keep buying European goods. This trade model also provided manufacturing jobs for Europeans abroad. Europe made sure Africans provided cheap labor by introducing mandatory taxes in their colonies. Africans’ only access to European currency was through the wages they were paid at European farms. These farms had been acquired by stealing land from Africans and resettling them in crowded and unproductive settlements.
And yet, the colonial powers continued exploiting these countries even after independence. In all this France stands out in the scope of policy intended to keep money flowing in from her former colonies, regardless of the consequences on their economies. This is because of the way that most French colonies gained their independence. In 1958 France had a new constitution that wanted to restructure the French empire into a federation. All colonies apart from Guinea accepted. Guinea declared her independence in 1958 and was punished for it. Her schools, hospitals and public administration buildings were burned. Animals and food were poisoned to show the other African colonies that the price of rejecting France would be high.
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Africa is poor, and its people need aid.
This message is repeated again and again by journalists, charities, and non-governmental organizations.
European and American children are told to finish their food because there are starving children in Africa.
But why has the continent become synonymous with poverty when it is rich in natural resources?
Now, how come America's so afraid of this Marihuana, which has been used for centuries in the middle East?
Ouran Media, like a rising wind, is stirring up change.
which makes the continent of Africa a paradise.
Kiolozoa, a small group of organisms, are part of the larger group known as Afrikanutea.
I will never betray a trusted person
take Fayo Mia, I've been wondering about "...
Really—poor Africa?
Well, let's dive into that.
Come on, let's internet
All of you, be patient
so you don't miss future uploads.
A Global Justice Now report found that in 2015,
$203 billion left Africa compared to the $161 billion
that the continent received through loans and aid.
But the amount of money leaving Africa is never highlighted,
and the ways in which money and resources are exploited from the continent
To benefit foreign governments and companies is concealed.
In 2019, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister, Luigi Di Maio,
pointed out that France's policy in Africa had caused poverty
and as a result, the migration of Africans to Europe via dangerous sea routes.
He is quoted as saying,
If we have people who are living in Africa now,
It's because some European countries, and in particular France,
have never stopped colonizing Africa.
He claimed that if France did not have these African colonies,
It would not be among the world's largest economies.
These are serious allegations, but is there any truth to them?
Has France impoverished its former African colonies for its own economic benefit?
Di Maio is not the first person to question France's policies in Africa.
and highlight how self-serving and exploitative they are.
For context, France was the second-largest European colonizer in Africa after Britain.
France primarily colonized countries in West Africa,
such as Senegal, Mali, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, and many others.
After these countries gained independence in the 1960s,
They still maintain strong political and economic relations with France.
Europe has attempted to portray its ongoing relationship with its former colonies
as an altruistic gesture since Africans were building their nations from scratch.
However, the reality is that African nations had been looted and robbed.
through these colonial powers' exploitation of their natural resources.
Before colonialism, Africa was rich in natural resources and trade.
After the theft of colonialism, they were starting from a deficit,
with the odds stacked against them.
West Africa had trading systems that had developed over hundreds of years.
before the French arrived in Africa.
Gold was the primary commodity, hence the name the Gold Coast.
When Europeans arrived, they introduced the slave trade.
that depleted the population through slave raids.
They also destabilized gold mining.
because the communities found it unsafe to mine their lands due to fear of attacks.
This initiated the unequal relationship that has persisted
through the colonial era and continues to this day.
European policies have destabilized the continent from the very beginning.
When the slave trade was abolished,
Europe also began importing raw materials such as cotton from Africa.
Cotton cultivation was labor-intensive, and Africa had a surplus of cheap labor.
One of the ironies of the colonial era was that Africa's largest export was raw cotton.
while its largest import was manufactured cotton.
Through this paradigm, Europe ensured that Africa did not develop manufacturing capabilities.
So they had to keep buying European goods.
This trade model also provided manufacturing jobs for Europeans overseas.
Europe ensured that Africans provided cheap labor.
by imposing mandatory taxes in their colonies.
Africans' only access to European currency
It was through the wages they were paid on European farms.
These farms had been acquired by stealing land from Africans.
and relocating them to overcrowded and unproductive settlements.
And yet the colonial powers continued exploiting these countries.
even after independence
In all this, France stands out in the scope of policy.
intended to keep money flowing in from the former colonies,
regardless of the consequences on their economies.
This is due to the manner in which most French colonies achieved their independence.
In 1958, France had a constitution.
that aimed to restructure the French Empire into a federation.
All colonies except Guinea were accepted.
Guinea declared independence in 1958 and was punished for it.
as schools, hospitals, and public administration buildings were burned.
Animals and food were poisoned to intimidate the other African colonies.
that the price of rejecting France would be high.
In 1960, French leader Charles de Gaulle
declared that the number of states of the French community
could become independent if they choose.
Not surprisingly, all colonies chose independence.
But independence would be on France's terms
and they had to make economic and political concessions.
Under those concessions, these nations remained under the French sphere of influence.
especially economically.
They initiated Franc-Afrique,
the concept of strong relations between France and its former colonies
General Charles de Gaulle, then President of France,
is credited with building up Franc-Afrique
through a network of personal contacts
between French leadership and African elites from former French colonies.
France laid the groundwork for this when it introduced political systems.
in its colonies that favored a select group of African elites.
Just before independence,
France abolished the parliamentary system in certain countries, such as Côte d'Ivoire.
and established a presidential regime
That meant that all power was vested in a single individual.
This was because it was easier to control one person.
and in essence control the entire country economically.
The personal contacts established after independence
was between the intent of the French leadership and the African elite
of clinging to power at the expense of their country's economies.
In exchange for protected interests against attempted coups and substantial kickbacks,
African leaders guaranteed French companies access to the continent's natural resources.
such as oil, gas, diamonds, uranium, and mineral ores.
These were mined cheaply.
and the proceeds enriched only a few Africans
in these corrupt governments and French mining companies.
To this day, France retains the first right of refusal on all natural resources.
and privileged access to all government contracts.
The most tangible evidence of Franc-Afrique
Is the CFA currency mentioned by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister?
The CFA franc was created in 1945 under the Bretton Woods Agreement.
and became the currency of Les Colonies Françaises d'Afrique, or CFA, French Colonies in Africa.窎
Today, France prints the CFA franc for 14 African countries in West and Central Africa.
The nations were later divided into a Western African bloc and a Central African bloc.
each with its own central bank to coordinate monetary exchanges with the French treasury.
Until recently, each central bank had to hold at least 50%
in the foreign exchange reserves of the Bank of France.
This meant that France controlled half of its foreign exchange reserves.
France held nearly 5 billion euros annually of African countries' funds in its treasury.
and the CFA countries had no access to it.
Some accuse France of re-declaring the funds in the reserve.
as developmental aid for its original depositors.
This reserve was transferred to the Central Bank of West African States only recently, in 2020.
The CFA franc also trades at a fixed exchange rate with the French franc and the euro.
Supporters of the system point out that inflation rates in Anglophone countries
have skyrocketed compared to CFA countries.
Nevertheless, inflation can be managed through other policies.
A fixed exchange rate leaves countries vulnerable to external shocks.
Some African economists consider dependency on European monetary policies
A constraint on growth due to its tendency to focus excessively on inflation.
Others refer to it as a symbol of neocolonialism in Africa.
Paris also demands that all military equipment be acquired from her.
and it retains the right to provide military training to the armies of these countries.
This means that Africa provides France with a permanent market for its arms industry.
In recent years, France has carried out several military interventions.
and currently leads an anti-terrorism initiative spanning five countries with up to 3,000 troops.
This means her military presence is always felt in the region.
while it does nothing to enhance the military capabilities of these countries.
France has also stolen priceless cultural artifacts from her former colonies.
that were looted and have not been returned to their native homes despite requests to do so.
In 2016, Benin requested the return of three totem statues.
kept in the Parisian Musée Quali-Branly for Non-European Art.
They were taken from the Kingdom of Dahomey while Benin was under French rule.
France rejected the request.
Other artifacts known as the Masks of the Dagon People are in the same museum collection.
They were brought to France from Mali following an expedition in the 1930s.
The expedition members used cruel methods to obtain these priceless cultural artifacts from the tribe.
They were never returned, and their forms went on to inspire artists such as Picasso.
Some of these artifacts held deep spiritual meanings for Africans.
but were looted to be displayed in European museums, where they remain to this day.
Sometimes the statues are sold for millions of dollars by these museums.
But this money is not sent to Africa.
Some estimates put the value of the looted cultural artifacts in public
and private collections in Europe in the millions of dollars.
In the past, France has also been accused of helping corrupt governments remain in power.
if they serve French interests at the expense of their own people.
France did not challenge these governments' corrupt policies when those policies served their interests.
The best of this is the Rwandan government of 1994.
A Washington-based firm concluded that France was neither blind nor unconscious of the imminent genocide.
yet continued to provide immediate support for Juvenal Habré's administration.
The report states that François Mitterrand, the president of France,
did so to advance French influence in the country.
There are even reports of African governments providing financial support to French political parties.
during the elections to ensure that the incoming governments would protect their corrupt regimes.
This means that the French protected the interests of a few corrupt elites in order to secure their grip on Africa.
In some cases, the consequences were horrific and tragic for African people.
That is all for today.
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