France’s Empire Ended. So Why Does Its Influence Still Reach Across Africa?

Louis Faidherbe became Senegal’s first governor in 1854 after expanding French colonial control. He is remembered for developing infrastructure, but also criticized for his role in colonialism.

A country can become independent, raise its own flag, and have its own government… But what happens if another country still has influence over its money, its politics, and even the way people speak?

Is that really freedom? Or is it independence with strings attached? This is the story of France and many of its former colonies in Africa.

Between the 1800s and the 1960s, France had a huge empire across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Then, in the 1960s, most of those countries became independent. Flags went up. Presidents were elected. But did French influence actually leave?

After independence, France made deals with many new nations. Military cooperation continued, and French companies remained active in sectors such as mining, banking, telecommunications, and transport.

Today, several African countries still use currencies known as the “CFA franc” — two currencies whose exchange rates are fixed to the euro and whose monetary systems remain linked to France through agreements with the French Treasury.

Wild, right? Can you imagine using a currency whose value is linked to another country?

But independence didn’t mean France completely packed up and left. It meant new deals. Political relationships. Military cooperation.

The Empire Ended. But Did French Influence Really Leave?

Economy: French companies are still important players in sectors such as telecommunications, energy, transport, and banking in some African countries.

Politics + Military: France has historically maintained military partnerships and bases in several African countries and has sent troops to help during regional crises. However, French military involvement has decreased significantly in recent years, particularly in parts of the Sahel.

Culture + Language: French is still an official or administrative language in many former French colonies. It remains widely used in education, government, media, and international relations.

So the question is: is this cooperation… independence or influence?

This Is Why France Is Still There

Some people say France is simply a partner.

“We need their support. Their language connects us to the world.”

Others use the term “Françafrique” to describe the close political, economic, and military relationships that France maintained with several African countries after independence, and argue that these relationships allowed France to retain disproportionate influence.

So what do you think? Is it truly independence, or is it influence?

In recent years, however, this relationship has changed drastically. Countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have ended or significantly reduced French military involvement, while some African governments increasingly seek relationships with countries such as China, Russia, Turkey, and others.

France therefore no longer has the same influence it once enjoyed in parts of Africa. The old Françafrique system has been challenged, and African countries are increasingly seeking greater independence in choosing their political, economic, and military partners.

The French empire may have ended decades ago, but its network of influence lasted much longer. Today, those networks are being challenged by a new generation of African leaders and citizens demanding greater sovereignty.

Independence or Influence? It Depends Who You Ask.

Empires today don’t always look like soldiers and maps. Sometimes they look like banks, school curriculums, and TV shows. Power isn’t just about owning land. It’s about shaping decisions, economies, and identities. And that’s why the story of France and its former colonies matters — because it asks us…

What does freedom really look like?

What Is the Big Idea?

Author: Shalom Adaugo
Editor & Publisher: Lucía Lobato

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