Farewell Mali!

Audio 04:01

Jean-Baptiste Placca, editorial writer at RFI, in 2020. © RFI/Pierre René-Worms

By: Jean-Baptiste Placca

3 mins

Vigorously challenged in what was once its pre-square in Africa, France must also come to terms with the growing disenchantment of part of the public.

If Paris wants to avoid an irreversible loss of influence in its former colonies, it will have to manage the current rebellion with tact.

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To the timetable announced by Paris for the withdrawal of its troops from Mali, the Bamako junta responds with an injunction to vacate the premises immediately, the junta promising to supervise the inventory.

To which Emmanuel Macron retorts that this departure will be done in good order, with respect for the safety of the soldiers.

So why can't this breakup be done calmly, on good terms?

No doubt because these verbal clashes between the two capitals have become a goodwill that surely serves the popularity of some.

This withdrawal was announced, expected.

And one would have thought that those who speak in the name of the junta would be satisfied with a thunderous: “good riddance!

".

But that would have been too simple.

The junta's statement leaves the unpleasant impression that it is necessary at all costs to designate a culprit, who would have violated his commitments.

As if to create an additional tension, likely to degenerate at the slightest spark.

It becomes exhausting to see those who have a State to direct, and duties towards their people, looking at the finger, while the sage points to the moon.

In politics, popularity with one's people is always healthier and more lasting when it is based on adherence to a vision, embodied by a leader, rather than on the detestation of a conveniently found external enemy.

The French, unloved, want to leave.

Can't this be understood?

Exactly !

Let them go, and take care of your people!

What is the use of injunctions addressed to someone who ignores you, and who will do as he has planned, avoiding making it easier for your real enemies, the jihadists?

The Malian leaders can therefore forget the French a little, to show their people in distress that they have better to offer them than slogans and fiery press releases.

It would be a bitter failure for this junta to transform the Malian people into pariahs of West African nations.

Fail, you said it.

Everyone talks about failure...

And everyone likes to attach it to the opposing party, since it is necessary to speak of adversity.

It is a huge failure, of which each party should take its share, especially since the consequences are in front of us, and not behind.

France, challenged in its pre-square, leaves a part of its prestige there, because this story is the illustration of what Dominique de Villepin, in one of his fulgurances, has, lately, described as “disinfluence”.

In fact, in most of the former French colonies in West and Central Africa, the French banks that used to hold the upper hand are lagging behind, or have simply disappeared.

Business circles in these countries are going to equip themselves, get supplies from China, Turkey, Dubai, and almost no longer from Paris.

The heart is no longer there.

They even go, for treatment, to Turkey or Tunisia.

France is losing its footing in this Africa which has long enabled it to maintain its rank in the world.

If it is exaggerated to speak of anti-French sentiment, to suggest that African opinion today is overflowing with love for France can hardly be understood.

France has had monopolistic relations with Africa.

In economy as in love, monopolies, by dint of lasting, end up creating a comfort of little effort in those who benefit from them, and a more or less open form of distrust in those who suffer them.

This is why all of Emmanuel Macron's attempts to conquer the new generations so often come up against the glass ceiling that is the accumulated liabilities, and some survivals of which still come, from time to time, to pollute any progress.

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