I’m absolutely astonished that you skipped over the ridiculous “independence agreement” that french shoved down their former colonies - first right of sale to natural resources is one of the biggest reasons the region is poor

Rwandan here. I think the best way to describe French-African relations can be understood if you imagine all the things America did to South America, then imagine America proceeded to start forcing the South Americans to pay for saving them from "communism".

Considering what France did to West Africa, it would be more surprising to think Africa doesn't hate France, or pretty much any European country Belgium in particular has so much blood on its hand

As an african from a country that was colonized by France I'm really disappointed in you guys you went way too fast on the subject and missed so many other reasons on why we hate them

Here in Sri Lanka, the people are learning, the hard way, that Chinese and Russian imperialism is not much better than Western imperialism. This is a lesson the anti-Westerners in Africa should take note of: the enemy of my enemy isn't always my friend. At least, not in the long run. The second lesson: imperialism is imperialism, no matter the nation that's behind it.

As a Nigerian, I agree that France deserves harsh criticism am for their terrible diplomacy in Africa but I also refuse to support the overthrowing of democracies for military dictatorships because that has never worked for us in Africa. And worse, actually inviting groups like Russian mercenaries is even worse than anything.

Maybe TLDR should've asked an African correspondent. The vid seemed to focus more on French and Western influence versus Russian and Chinese influence acting upon African countries as opposed to internal changes in Africa that has changed their relationship with outside powers

I’m a westerner who lived in east africa off and on for the last few years. It isn’t that america is losing the information war because propaganda is America’s strongest point. It’s that Africans can feel the disrespect and disregard for their interests. China does not intervene in local political affairs and even though they’re no angels, you know what to expect from them. Turkey, the gulf states, India and other emerging economies see great opportunity in developing east Africa so they can have a market to trade with. The usa and france care about keeping africa subservient, that’s why america is losing the African Cold War and will lose unless they change they’re strategy now but we all know they won’t.

Let me be clear, I'm NOT a fan of the way Russia and China do business. But with even cursory knowledge of how France has treated it's colonies in the past, the surge of anger at their incompetence is understandable.

The lesson is that imperialism is bad if it doesn't come from your own country

As someone living in an ex-colony, albeit less screwed than others, every time I see people confused about the international relationships of ex-colonies it always feels like the families of abusive ex-partners asking why they don't want to go back into a relationship with baffling and "honest" confusion. That being said, it often feels like ex-colonies just upgrade from wife-beaters to gaslighters.

France was pretty unpopular even before the 2010s. When I was studying in Paris many years ago, I heard stories from West African students. They told me that when a very pro-French president of the Ivory Coast, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, died in the early 1990s, France irresponsibly left the West Afrcian franc (CFA) drop in value precipitously, thus damaging the economies of several nations in the region. I also heard that when one small country in West Africa (I forget which one) voted not to keep close ties with France after independence, the French were so vindictive that they took everything with them when they left, even the plumbing. But the most telling thing I learned about, in a course on international trade, was the French practice of imposing "cascading tariffs" on their former colonies in Africa. What this meant was that there were different levels of tariffs that the Africa had to pay to export their goods to France. The highest tariffs were charged for manufactured goods and the lowest were charged for commodities such as foodstuffs and minerals. This guaranteed that these countries would never develop economically. This was going on as early as the 1970s, if not earlier.

Some of the viewers are complaining about treating Africa as a single entity, while this is wrong, but we (Africans) even those of us who aren't from west Africa, have some negative issues with France and we stand with our siblings in west Africa, their misery is our's too

Guessing nobody from TLDR will ever see this but on the off chance someone does: you guys might want to be a little more precise with how you talk about African countries/regions. It seems like most of what you’re talking about in this video concerns West Africa, and within that specifically the former French colonies in subsaharan West Africa. I get that it’s a 10 minute video and you guys have to be concise, but there’s an unfortunate tendency for western media to talk about “Africa” more as a single entity-like a country- than the massive, regionally diverse continent that it is. Talking about it this way also might give your viewers an incomplete picture, since they might assume that the trends you’re talking about (the coups, Wagner group involvement, etc) apply to the entire continent or even to all of France’s former African colonies when that isn’t entirely true (ex. Algeria and Madagascar). Video titles like “Why Africa and France Have Fallen Out” kinda reinforce this, since you’re comparing an entire continent to a single, comparatively small, country. It’s not that we can’t talk about Africa holistically as a continent or trends that effect it, but just like we do with other continents it might be a good idea to recognize more explicitly its regional diversity. Imagine talking about European politics if people rarely bothered to differentiate between “Western Europe” “Scandinavia” “The Balkans” or “Eastern Europe” and just said “Europe.” Things would get confusing! Sorry for the nitpick. Keep up the good work!

Disappointed in no mention of France's role in deposing AU leader Gaddafi and in the destabilizing of Libya and its neighbors and thus the slowing down or derailment of African advancement projects that were in the works. Besides that France has been involved in a couple dozen coups or attempted coups, assassination or attempted assassinations and subversive or sabotage all over Africa, not forgetting apartheid and genocide and war crimes in Algeria.

As we say in Mexico: "mucho ayuda el que no estorba." He who gets out of the way helps a lot.

I fully support these countries breaking away from their former colonial masters. But replacing France with Russia or China isn’t gonna change anything guys Quick edit: as a West African, it’s funny to see non-Africans in the comments try to tell us about our own countries and what we need ☠️ despite never even stepping foot here

As a French guy I believe that the government should leave Africa and stop dictating our rules to Africans. End the francophonie and let Africans rule themselves . To each its own

I'm an American who has lived in China and currently South Africa. Colonialism in Africa is an incredibly complex topic, but if there's one uniting thread I've learned over the last decade, it's that it doesn't matter if your government is from Britain, the Us, China, Russia, or France--just stay the eff out of Africa and leave African nations to be governed by Africans, and let them own their resources. Many African nations are already dually taxed by foreign powers: their natural resources are stripped from them by foreign powers, paying Africans who mine them peanuts. Then, those same resources are refined and manufactured into phones and such elsewhere to be sold back to Africans at a premium. The profits go to the West and the East while the people who's land holds the resources get nothing but poverty.

No country is trying to "replace France with China or Russia." They're trying to replace unjust & parasitic business practices with fair and humane business practices. If France offers fair business practices, they won't be afraid of getting replaced by anyone else. All the French have to do is sign better business deals and they'll be in good terms with these nations.

People are waking up and realizing that it cannot be business as usual. If Africa hates France it’s not without reason..

Can you stop saying Africa as if its a country. It's literally the west African countries that have a problem with France. Not the whole continent

As someone living in Cameroon (one of the former French colonies), I must say thank you for this very good video, TLDR. It does a very good job capturing the feelings and facts around the relationship between France and its ex-colonies. We rarely receive this kind of qualitative and accurate content covering this topic and presenting it to a large international audience, so thank you!

France has done so many terrible things that go unnoticed because they happen to not be the #1 superpower. After their colony Haiti gained its independence and the former slaves on the island seized the plantations, France forced Haiti to spend the next 122 years spending most of their GDP on paying back the French for lost property; to enforce this, they would show up with their navy and blockade the island.

There is a reason why ECOWAS countries are the poorest among the poorest continent. 500 billion as colonial tax per year is a kill shot. But sadly the ECOWAS-leaders were hand picked by the west to serve their interests. Such a coup is the only solution it seems.

It's pretty clear that France never really left the colonial era, for example if France has been a partner for over 50 years and those countries are still some of the poorest in the world, France was only taking resources from these people which is unacceptable. As African American person I would love for Africa nations to pull it together and really show the world how great Africa is. China & Russia however aren't saviors, it's just another form of colonialisim that is more palatable for modern audiences.

I feel like a lot of westerners don't like France, and get a bit of a thrill out of seeing France embarrassed or humiliated, in part because the French are stereotyped as very holier-than-thou, so it feels like a justified comeuppance. But I also think this attitude makes a lot of us just lazily assume that ANY anti-French sentiment, anywhere, is always entirely rational. This video does a good job of making the case for why anti-French sentiment in Africa is something we have to be able to consider carefully, and not just blithely dismiss as something the French "obviously had coming" and thus not worth thinking critically about from a geopolitical perspective.

As a 🇹🇷 I just hope that life gets better for my African friends.

Afrika must liberates herself from Neo-colonialism

This whole video is packaged as though France hasn't done anything "unfair" to it's African "partners" since colonialism, and that the only issue is that China & Russia waged an information war.. Has anyone in TL;DR even bothered to look into all of the MANY ways that France has hampered progress in all of those nations *AFTER* colonialism? Maybe that is also part of the issue here? It's only a West vs East issue if you (or China) want to paint it that way, but this is definitely just mostly about France's neo-colonialism

I always thought it was funny how in modern warfare 3 multiplayer some maps had generic pmcs vs generic African militia. But now it seems they may have been onto something

“Why _____ hates France” could be a new series.

You know, when there is a "coup" in Africa, the main difference is that the new ruler changes the numbers of the account where the money goes... Everytime they blame France, but when you dig a little bit, you see new people in power there harvesting the money of the country.

Getting neo colonialists out of the continent is good, but if it's just to replace them with other, just as brutal ones like Russia and China, then it's not an independence move, it's just choosing who's boots your leader in charge is gonna be licking It really seems like Africa as a whole will never be independent or at least fully sovereign, just some individual countries that could nail it

Gotta love when Europe gets called out for their hypocrisy

Not a single mention of France's oil interests with TotalEnergies in Africa

Felt like you should have mentioned Libya when that brief anti nato reason… That might be why, the defensive Alliance of the North Atlantic over threw Gadaffi

Information War??? You mean like you are doing? I have lived in South Africa for all 56 years of my life and the Western actions have become clear to me. In fact, the last 130 years of Europe / American actions have been deviating for Africa.

French hate in Africa is not only about geopolitics and commerce, but the attitude of France towards Africans. Take for example how France treats its citizens of African descent on its own country. Marginalization, racism, police brutality, etc

Interesting to see and hear this developments.

You forgot to mention how the french overthrow any leader that challenges their hegemony in the region.

Ah macron made big friends with Jinping, called the US essentially a neocolonial power in the pacific because they are making defence deals, and China responds to that friendship by dislodging him from Africa. Can’t help but find that rather ironic.

France needs to leave these countries alone so that they can deal with their very own affairs and people period

I think Every African and Asian country should take a stance against European and American corruption.

Another European conveniently left out the most important part about how the CFA Franc works. How 80 percent of those 14 countries money have to go to the Bank of France. To get it back, it has to be in the form of a loan with interest, and only if France approves.

Unlike most other former empires, France doesn't apologise for what they've done to other nations and they seem to actively go out of their way to avoid taking ownership of what they've done in the past. Verbally attacking and discrediting anyone who calls them out on it.

i have no symphathy for France, the level of exploitation that they carried out of Africa is one of the darkest period in their history and i hope Africa stands unted against France

With France still being an empire, I’m all for France leaving Africa for good

You’re wrong on France being the only former colonial power to have military bases in Africa (the British have two training facilities in Kenya of course).

Firstly, there are 54 countries on the continent with different relationship with France, some like Gabon are strongly pro-France Western hypocrisy and atrocities is largely to be blamed for anti-western sentiments. You cannot claim to be pro-democratic when you actively support some of the most authoritarian and undemocratic government on the continent. Both the USA and France have actively and passively supported coups on the continent even against democratic elected government, but cry wolf when its not in their favour. Gabon a strong France ally has had two presidents in its history a father and son, Cameroon's Paul Biya has been in charge since 1975. Guess who has always stepped in to save these men when there is an attempt to remove them? Democratic France.

As an American, I have a very specific opinion about this story, I can't tell the difference between French and Russian flags 🤷‍♂

East Africa should check on the UK too

modern Africaine are saying like "why would we let France play with us like that why don't we make relationship with Russia or China and have more than one country in our continent and have them rivel between them "

I think French foreign policy needs to be modernized and doesn't reflect the geopolitics of 2023 at all. In the international media, the French government often refers to own colonies when explaining its foreign policy, and we, as modern citizens, cannot understand what they are saying, and sometimes it feels anachronistic. I think it's time for the people themselves to question whether Gaullisme, the foundation of French ruling ideology, is the right policy for modern France.

As a Haitian, I’m very happy to see my African brothers throw off the last vestiges of colonialism. I’m very wary of Russia and China however. Haiti is going through the same issue now with many people supporting them because they spite the west. But the west has only itself to blame for that

I'm moroccan, and whilst we are currently more stable than our sub-saharan brothers, even here the hate for france is growing, the majority of the population even want the ditch french as an official foreign language and finally replace it with english, we are reducing our economic connections with France in favor for Spain, China, the US... Overall, everyone agrees that France is no longer the way to go if we really care about our country's development. Unfortunately, this also means many people are slowly leaning towards supporting any anti-western propaganda.

It's nice to know that Africa is a single country of one people, ethnicity, religion, lanugage and borders. Thanks in advance, for explaining how all of Europe has fallen out with Swaziland for your next video.

I don’t think it is fair to say that Africa hates France. I think a much better appropriate statement is “All people hate exploitive .” France is very exploitive. .

It’s time the African Union step up and spearhead financial and geopolitical independence across the African continent.

Would LOVE a series on this 5:48 !!!

The point of using essentially the euro/ franc is arguably symbolic. Only French farmers may benefit because of higher African export prices while on the other hand raw materials from Africa become more expensive in France and Eurozone. You could have also mentioned Sarkozy's notorious speech in 2007 on African farmers living 'outside history', untouched by modernity and progress.

"Information war"? As an African who lives in the west, I remember Libya. I remember that the French also overthrowing Thomas Sankara. I remember the west supported apartheid. The same pattern exists all over the developing world: Iraq, Chile, Honduras, Palestine, Haiti... You guys must enjoy your Information war😉

Whataboutism is rampant here 😂 “French colonialism bad” “BUHT WHAT ABOUT CHINA”

You're trivializing the grossly negative impact the currency system & economic damage France has had on the 14 Africa countries

Dear africans, look at what Russia does to those who they call brothers and neighbours, and wonder what they would do to you.

A few years ago I was watching a vid about British decolonisation, I came across a top rated post I translated saying "The French got to keep their colonies!" followed by appraisal from others. I thought it was a joke, the works of frustrated shitposters but this weeks been an eye opener! when I find it I'll amend this one.

I have heard a very old man history teacher lecturing us about the French and their colonial practice. He said after the Second World War, Britian retreated from most of her colonies to gain strength. But the French, they like turn back the clock, they were still obsessing with their way of colonialism......that's why they got their bloody nose defeated in the 1954 "Battle of Dien Bien Phu", Vietnam. His remarks was true, the stubborn Frenchy didn't change at all. "Turn back the clock" what a precise description of them!

Why are French military bases in Africa or a American military bases in Africa. Russia and China don’t come with military bases. They actually invest and fairly pay for the minerals.

As a moroccan we are tired of france always tells us what to do its time for africa to act in its own interest and let everyone trade no special deals to our colonisers independence is the right too choose your friends

I'm so glad you brought up the information war!!! That's crucial😮

France preaches water and drinks wine let then survive on the trade they keep preaching to the world and leave Africa. You can't put what France 🇫🇷 has done in AFRICA in words, the video was too linient on France.

In the late 50's when Guinea became independent its president held a nationwide referendum on whether the country should remain part of the African - French monetary union. More than 90% of voters voted to leave the union and a bitter and spiteful France enacted what they sarcastically labeled "divorce without alimony": France immediately withdrew over 5000 of its citizens,who had held core and vital positions and thus experience and knowledge and expertise in civil service, education, technology, health, banking etc and INSTRUCTED them to sabotage or destroy anything they couldn't take back with them. This resulted in the sabotage, destruction, burning etc of entire school libraries, public records, medicines, labs, crops, labs, hospitals and clinics, agricultural and medical and scientific equipment, offices, military equipment etc. That sums up France's attitude towards Africa: if it can't control or gain then "fcuk you"

I guess me and all my homies must be African too then 💀

We're gonna need some source about that "information war" my dude.

Thank You for the Truth

As an African i can say that we always hated france, now it's more easier to hear those voices is because people have a voice with the internet.

One lesson of international politics is tha that it is always best to diversify. Never, ever rely on one partner on anything vital or you will regret because there is no such thing as gratitude or kindness in politics. There are only cynical actors fighting for their own interests. Always have an alternative.

"It imports a significant fraction of both its oil and Uranium from Africa" is an interesting way to say "It exploits its former colonies like its the Eighteenhundreds"

Let’s not forget the casual racism of the French culture. That must have a big impact.

The truth is given the information we have gotten of late about the history of France in Africa, they (the French) have been anything but friends or even human at times.

It is long past time that the people of all countries had the right to rule themselves without the interference of other governments and multinational companies that think the people are too stupid to know what is best for them. In reality those outside interests are inflicting on others what is right for them and the local people are made to shut up and get on with it.

So much sugar--coating 😂😂. France literally intiated coups in west africa numerous times.

A friend indeed is a friend when one needs

We Europeans 🇪🇺 should have first of all one and only one voice. Second of all, we should stop treating African countries as colonies but as partners. Convince, do not force

I am tired of those videos and press articles on France and their so-called « neocolonies ». Of course West Africa is important for France in terms of influence and for some ressources (especially uranium and ores). Nevertheless, we shouldn’t forget that this part of the world (CFA zone) weight less than 0,6% in France external trade balance. Moreover, one of the arguments often used to criticize France foreign policy in West Africa is the Franc CFA. But France make no money out of it. It mostly benefit the countries which used this currencies because they wouldn’t be able to have a fully stable and independent currencies by theirselves (economies are to weak and reliant on exportations of commodities). Most of this countries are politically instable, with a high elite who manage to keep power and money. And there is my point. If this part of Africa doesn’t want France, then fine, I totally understand its willingness of being free from the former colonialism. And France isn’t really reliant on those countries. However, this will absolutely resolve nothing. The major issue in Western Africa is despotism and contracts between important firms (Total, Shell, Vivendi, Sinopec and so forth) and the leaders of those countries which doesn’t benefit the population. The money which comes from exportations is untraceable and rarely results in development. The problem isn’t France here, it’s just bribery of the upper classes. Western Africa is full of ressources and I really wish the better for this zone. But the problem here isn’t France, and replacing France by China or Russia will not resolve anything … PS : Sorry for my English, I’m French... I am fully open to debate if some of you want to.

the crowed that met holland was cheering for him not because they liked france but because of his statment before the visit where he said that itis time for france to correct itis mistakes and people thought that france will take responsibilities for what it has done in the past and also you didnot even scratch the surface of why africans hate france mostly

"The bird flies away, the crow nests in its place" - Azerbaijani proverb. African countries have yet to see the Russian and Chinese explotation, that's why warnings fom their former colonial masters matter little to them.

Because it's easier to blame someone else for your problems than take charge and deal with them yourself.

As a Spaniard, I honestly believe that France should have left Africa long ago. What it did to Rwanda 29 years ago was and still is unforgivable. No African could ever forget the role France and the West had played in facilitating the genocide.

What France did to Africa: France Colonialism has had significant disadvantages for both colonised regions and indigenous populations. Some of the key disadvantages include: 1. Exploitation: France Colonial powers often exploited the natural resources, labour, and economies of colonized regions for their own benefit, leading to economic hardships for the local populations. 2. Cultural Destruction: France Colonization often resulted in the erosion or suppression of indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions, as colonial powers imposed their own values and customs. 3. Loss of Land and Sovereignty: Indigenous peoples frequently lost control over their ancestral lands and sovereignty as colonial powers claimed ownership and authority over these territories. 4. Violence and Conflict: France Colonialism often led to violence, conflict, and even genocide, as indigenous populations resisted colonization or faced brutal suppression. 5. Economic Inequality: Colonized regions often experienced significant economic disparities, with wealth concentrated in the hands of colonizers and local elites, while the majority of the population lived in poverty. 6. Social Disruption: Colonialism disrupted traditional social structures and systems, leading to dislocation, displacement, and the breakdown of communities. 7. Health Impacts: The introduction of new diseases by colonizers often had devastating health consequences for indigenous populations, who lacked immunity to these diseases. 8. Educational and Economic Disparities: Colonized populations were often denied access to quality education and economic opportunities, perpetuating inequalities for generations. 9. Political Instability: Many former colonies faced political instability and conflict in the aftermath of colonial rule, as they struggled to establish stable governments and institutions. 10. Lingering Effects: Even after gaining independence, many former colonies continue to grapple with the long-term effects of colonialism, including economic challenges, political instability, and cultural identity issues.

Hate it when People around the word say Africa and acts as if every single country on the continent agrees with the same thing.

Why Africa hates France? answer: who doesn't?

OK, can you answer why it is ok? For the West to allow France to have as many military bases as they like in Africa. However, Russia is not allowed to have a military base in Ukraine.?

France has screwed over all of its former colonies going back to Haiti. It's no surprise people are turning away from it. I am just awe struck it took so long.

Honest analysis.

This trend will only get worse. I'm a Cameroonian and I can tell you that we don't have independence practically bcos our currency, passport, syllabus etc are made in France yet they won't give us visas to go

France's history with most former colonies are abusive. The violent war in Vietnam or the impoverishment in Haiti and Lebanon made France unlikeable. Africans definitely know it and thus this gives them sense of thinking that Russia could help them.

I'm really disgusted by some comments implying that now Russia imperialism will be much worse to what they had. First, I'm disgusted of westerners telling everyone all the time what is good and what is bad for others; and second, all imperialism is equally pretty bad in it's essence and has been since it's existence.

The comment section is full of people criticizing the coups but. Not a single one offering a better, practical and feasible alternative

"France, and the west generally, just have not done enough......." Well, ain't that the truth. You could say that about many regions in the world. We've been asleep at the switch, resting on our laurels and living the soft life while our rivals have been growing. I wish I had the confidence that this situation would turn around but I don't. We're an increasingly unserious society focused on unserious matters and governed by unserious leaders.