A Neo-colonialist French Foreign Policy in Africa? Insights from Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to analyze possible persistent French neo- colonialism in Africa. The first section deals with the theoretical framework of the term under scrutiny, followed by an analysis of the genesis of contemporary French foreign policy towards Africa by comparing the French presidential administrations, as well as analyzing the persistent French military presence in Africa. The paper also focuses on the study of France’s relations with African countries using the example of Côte d’Ivoire and of the French military intervention during the civil war in Côte d’Ivoire (2002). The paper discusses the main consequences of French interventions in the region, and the result of the analysis is a comprehensive assessment of current mutual relations and of the current French influence in sub-Saharan Africa.