Empires do not always begin to decline when they lose their borders; sometimes their decline begins when they lose their place in the memory of others.

France today finds itself looking into two different mirrors. In one, it sees the streets of Paris, social unrest and political tensions. In the other, it sees a vast African landscape marked by growing dissent, departing military forces and societies reassessing relationships shaped by the colonial past. These images are not identical. They emerge from different histories, social expectations and political struggles. Yet both reflect the winds of a changing world, unsettling established orders and challenging familiar assumptions.

Across several European cities, young people, workers and different social groups have taken to the streets. From student protests and the Yellow Vests movement in France to demonstrations driven by diverse grievances elsewhere in Europe, questions have resurfaced about the relationship between political institutions and the societies they represent. The protests witnessed in countries such as Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain and Albania cannot be treated as manifestations of a single movement. Nevertheless, they raise a common question: to what extent can established political systems respond to the expectations of changing societies?

For France, this question extends beyond its own borders. In Africa, long regarded by Paris as one of the principal foundations of its global influence, traditional relationships are increasingly being questioned by new generations. On one side stand the social protests of Europe; on the other, Africa’s demands for sovereignty, equality and greater control over its own future. It would be misleading to attribute these developments to a single cause. Yet both remind us that power cannot be preserved indefinitely through military capacity, economic weight or diplomatic tradition alone. It also depends on acceptance, trust and the ability to understand a changing world.

Has Colonialism Ended—or Has It Changed Its Form?

France’s story in Africa is not merely a story of colonialism confined to the past. It is also a story of political influence, economic relationships, military cooperation and cultural presence that continued, in different forms, after independence.

The French occupation of Algeria in 1830 marked a decisive stage in France’s expansion across the continent. Over time, Africa became an important pillar of Paris’s claim to global power. Colonial rule was not limited to controlling territory and exploiting natural resources. It also left enduring marks on education systems, administrative structures, trade routes and cultural life. For France, Africa represented not only economic opportunity but also a means of strengthening its position in international competition and reinforcing its identity as a major power.

Following the Second World War, the growth of independence movements and the increasing unsustainability of colonial rule began to transform the political map. The 1960s witnessed the emergence of numerous independent African states. Yet political independence did not automatically dissolve every economic, institutional and cultural relationship inherited from the colonial era.

This is where the concept of Françafrique becomes particularly relevant. The term is commonly used to describe the privileged political, economic and security relationships that continued between France and many of its former colonies after independence. Military cooperation, monetary and financial arrangements, the activities of French companies, the institutional prominence of the French language and relationships with local political elites have all formed part of this wider debate.

It would be simplistic, of course, to portray these relationships as a single, centrally controlled system that remained unchanged over time. African countries have different histories, political priorities and approaches to France. Nevertheless, a fundamental question remains: once a country has achieved political independence, does the true meaning of that independence not deepen as it gains greater freedom to determine its own economic and strategic choices?

Colonialism sometimes survives in the form of a uniform, sometimes through a trade agreement, and sometimes through a curriculum that determines the language in which a child is educated. Exercising influence over a country’s territory is one form of power; shaping its collective memory, economic choices and vision of the future is another. Political flags may change, but dependencies that constrain national decision-making can endure long afterwards.

Perhaps the most enduring legacy of colonialism is the uncertainty it leaves over the extent to which a people can truly determine their own future.

The Sahel and the Fracturing of an Old Order

Political transformations in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years have exposed a serious rupture in France’s traditional sphere of influence. Following military coups, the authorities in these countries moved to redefine their relationships with France. The withdrawal of French troops, the termination of military arrangements and diplomatic tensions with Paris became visible signs of a broader transformation.

These developments cannot be explained solely by Russia’s growing presence or the emergence of other external actors. The Sahel is undoubtedly an important arena of global competition. Russia’s security engagement, China’s economic weight and the diplomatic initiatives of other countries are reshaping the regional balance. Yet the rise of external powers cannot substitute for an understanding of........

© Stratejik Düşünce Enstitüsü