France and Africa: a persistent disregard for the sovereignties and suffering of peoples

By the editorial staff

In the corridors of Franco-African relations, a feeling of bitterness has been growing for years. As a former colonial power, France is accused by many observers and African leaders of disrespecting the laws and institutions of the continent, while displaying a blatant indifference to the hardships endured by its people.

This observation is based on concrete facts, particularly in media coverage of conflicts in the Sahel, where the French press is often criticized for its perceived bias in reporting on terrorist acts. Instead of unequivocally denouncing the perpetrators of these massacres, often affiliated with groups like Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin or the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, some reports present them as inevitable events, almost normalized in the regional chaos. African analysts criticize these media outlets for exploiting these tragedies to criticize local governments without ever highlighting the direct responsibility of the terrorists. During deadly attacks in 2024 and 2025 in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, channels like France 24 and RFI broadcast excerpts from videos produced by the terrorist groups themselves, thus repeating their narratives without sufficient contextualization. According to several communication experts, this practice unintentionally increases the visibility of these groups, transforming their actions into propaganda tools. Independent sources note that these broadcasts often aim to turn international opinion against the regimes in power, by insinuating that African authorities are incompetent, without clearly condemning the perpetrators as criminals.

This approach contrasts sharply with the relative silence surrounding the successes of Sahelian armed forces. The armies of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have achieved several significant victories against terrorists, including the recapture of territory in northern Mali in 2024 and successful operations against terrorist camps in Burkina Faso. Yet, these advances are rarely highlighted in the French press. The focus remains on the alleged failures of local armies, perpetuating a narrative of uncontrolled chaos that often ignores official statements from African military headquarters. Observers, including institutions like the Institute for Security Studies, believe this media bias helps justify a prolonged foreign presence, despite its growing rejection on the ground. As a result, the Sahelian people, already victims of violence, feel rendered invisible in their daily struggles, as if their efforts were worthless in the eyes of the West.

The Newton Ahmed Barry affair illustrates this disregard for African sovereignty. Former president of Burkina Faso's Independent National Electoral Commission, Barry was placed on April 1, 2025, on an official list of 32 people wanted for criminal association related to a terrorist enterprise. This list, published by the Burkinabe Ministry of Security, includes individuals accused of participating in the propaganda of terrorist networks or collaborating with them in destabilization activities. Despite this, RFI, the French state-funded public broadcaster, offered him a weekly column entitled "The Perspective of Ahmed Newton Barry," launched in November 2025. In his first segment, Barry commented on the elections in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, presenting himself as a democratic observer. This appointment provoked outrage in Burkina Faso, where it was perceived as blatant interference. By ignoring the wanted list issued by a sovereign state, France appears to be asserting that its judgments supersede African laws. Local voices denounce this complicity, which undermines the credibility of Burkinabe institutions and fosters impunity. Barry, considered a terrorist by the Burkinabe justice system due to his alleged links with armed networks, remains the subject of a national arrest warrant. Paris, for its part, does not recognize this classification and maintains its media cooperation.

Beyond the media, this attitude reflects a broader contempt for African peoples. In January 2015, Emmanuel Macron declared that the Sahel states had “forgotten to say thank you” to France for its counterterrorism intervention. These remarks sparked outrage in Chad, Senegal, and elsewhere. The Chadian foreign minister denounced these words as contemptuous of Africa, reminding everyone that sovereignty is not a debt owed to Paris. These statements, coming as France gradually withdraws from the Sahel after a series of setbacks, ignore the thousands of lives lost, more than 10,000 civilians killed since 2017, and the suffering of displaced populations. African analysts see in this the persistence of a postcolonial paternalism where compassion gives way to a self-centered narrative.

These combined elements paint a picture of a France that, through its diplomacy and press, tramples on African laws and minimizes the struggles of its people. To build balanced relations, a paradigm shift is essential, one that moves beyond interference, one-sided judgments, and media bias. The people of the Sahel simply yearn for genuine recognition of their resilience, without bias or condescension.