What is Françafrique? The taboo word that reveals the shifting influence of France in Africa

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 19:22:22 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/what-is-francafrique-the-taboo-word-that-reveals-the-shifting-influence-of-france-in-africa-268129>

"The term “Françafrique” describes the political, economic and military
networks built to preserve French influence in Africa. It refers to a past era
but many believe that it still shapes relations between France and its former
colonies today.

The word was popularised by French economist, historian and activist
François-Xavier Verschave in his 1998 book Françafrique: The Longest Scandal
of the Republic
. He used it to condemn a neocolonial system that created
dependence and allowed for French interference. Originally, the idea meant a
close cooperation between France and Francophone Africa.

As a researcher in political discourse and Franco-African relations, I am
interested in how the idea of Françafrique still affects the way both sides see
each other today."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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