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PBAT GAINS WHERE OTHERS FAILED.
The recent outing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) to France was viewed with lots of skepticism.
Examining France’s African relations, it requires some general observations about what works and what doesn’t bringing Nigerians thematic view in their imaginary worlds to regressive platitudes.
For other online contributors, the past Franco-African relations was a problem to be fixed: either a burden to be cast off or a contradiction to be resolved, and sometimes both.
WHY
Because France is viewed with great suspicion over her role in almost all of her former African colonies. I for one have been critical to her policies in Rwanda, Mali and CAR to mention just a few.
The question remains how would PBAT trust France and expect it to honor all agreements where his Franco-African homologous allegedly failed?
How is this external actor, France, competing to gain access and project power and influence in the region mostly suspicious to its foreign policies?
What are the distinctive strategies being considered by France?
And how does it intend to interact with realities on the ground and key regional stakeholders made up of her hostile former colonies that are in the majority in the sub-region?
Indeed, without a doubt, PBAT apart from being the Chairman of ECOWAS has greater interest of restoring peace in the sub-region where Francophone states enjoy the majority. Whether Nigeria likes it or not, involving France in our sub-regional economic and security architecture is a necessary task that must be undertaken.
France enjoys international credibility because it is one of the five pillars of the UN Security Council. This means it enjoys veto power to torpedo any resolution that goes against its interest in peace and security.
ECONOMIC INTEREST
So also her economic interests in the sub-region where it backs the CFA that remains the extent currency in use in the francophones West Africa. The current alternative to the CFA franc in West Africa is the joint currency planned for members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The new currency was due to enter into circulation in 2015, but this has since been deferred until 2020. The new 2020 deadline has not also been met, but one thing seems increasingly clear is that the CFA franc may no longer has a future.
SECURITY OPTIONS
All efforts towards containing insurgencies in the West African sub-region is proving to be a daunting task. We suffer loss of men and materials due to terror attack and the Joint Military Patrol organised under the auspices of LCBC which is made up of 5 countries, 4 of which are francophone will of necessity must involve France. Whatever claim these neighbours must have against France, it is a matter of common sense that France will have a role. After all, apart from its presence at all international fora, all their monies are also banked in France while their local currencies have the backing of France as well. It is what the Fulani will say “wale ko wale, Debo dai Debo”, or as Joseph Kelly calls it catch 2-2 situation either which way France features in all of their endeavours. Love it or Hate it. That’s the reality.
In this game of “Uncommon Knowledge”, it is important to identify what is possible from what is practicable.
Ever more attention is being paid to the physical limits and how sustainable development must incorporate an
understanding and appreciation of this if Nigerians are to live within the means available to them.
One of the most significant policy analyses of recent years on the French-African Relations and its assessment of development drive, is its relative impact on state by state basis. The economic gain in the terms of the benefits derived from the relationship by Africans, rather than by both parties was always used to measure its success, as Africans sought to be given priority.
Degrading political ties is not just viewed as an evil, and must therefore not be presented as a problem due to the disadvantages associated with its impact on Africa.
Why won’t Africans look inwards for the necessary sacrifices expected of them in their development agenda? Why must France or any metropolitan western power make sacrifices for Africa?
This assessment
offers a deeper analysis of the two-way relationship that Africans have with France and other Western powers, and how the balance ought to be struck. We must view this relationship as something that can be used to serve both needs as well as to understand that the integrity of diplomacy must be respected. Failure to this will change our world view significantly and will have direct impact on the ways in which we can live our lives.
PBAT efforts clearly link our needs with those of our neighbours in a way that echoes the emphasis on cordiality of relations being promoted through ECOWAS. As the Chairman, wisdom dictates that he must pursue a middle course to bring together all parties for their mutual benefits and of their bigger communities.
Malam Mohd’ Kabir Ilyasu a retired foreign affairs officer, author and public affairs analyst writes from Kaduna Nigeria 10-12-2024
