IS FRANCE ‘NEO-COLONISING’ NIGERIA?

Nigeria sits smack in the middle of Françafrique, a French sphere of political, economic and military influence over ex-colonies in West and Central Africa.

Content creator The Merc (themerc on Instagram and X) is waving a big red flag, claiming that Paris is now looking for similar sway over Abuja. He points to a 300-million-euro multi-sector deal, branding it a smokescreen for France's true intentions towards Nigeria.

It's not hard to see why Macron & Co. are keen to plant the French flag in Nigeria. The Sahel trio of anti-imperialist nations - Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - have kicked out the French military, slashed French media influence, started nationalising their natural resources and formed an alliance to collaborate on defence, the economy and foreign policy. They've also quit regional bloc ECOWAS, which France was using to try and exercise control over the defiant three.

For a bit of context, Tinubu is itching for French backing to rescue Nigeria from its worst economic slump in ages, while Macron is on the lookout for a buddy to help mend France's bruised reputation in Africa.

So, do you think Nigerians will soon be brushing up on their French, or will Tinubu's cozy relationship with Macron fizzle out faster than a soda left open?

Video credit: @The Merc

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpq9x94gj2no

https://wadr.org/nigeria-and-france-sign-a-300-million-euro-deal-to-finance-critical-sectors/

https://www.euractiv.com/section/africa/news/france-grants-full-support-to-ecowas-deployment-of-regional-military-force/

https://africacheck.org/fact-checks/meta-programme-fact-checks/us-france-deny-plans-military-bases-nigeria-nigerian

https://ecfr.eu/article/why-france-should-close-its-permanent-military-bases-in-africa/