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ARTICLE · 28 AUGUST 1997

French President Announces Radical Changes To France's Africa Policy

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United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector
French President Jacques Chirac on 27 August announced sweeping changes to France's policy towards the 14 Franc Zone countries (many of which are its former colonies) in sub-Saharan Africa. He stated that France would no longer intervene militarily or politically in these countries.

The policy changes are as follows:

  • France will broaden its commercial and political influence on the rest of the continent. The bulk of its financial assistance will no longer be limited to former colonies but will be directed at the entire continent.
  • France will drop its military defence role in the Franc Zone. This will include closing down two military bases in Central African Republic (CAR), from where France has launched numerous military interventions in its former colonies. Some 1,800 soldiers will be repatriated from bases in five countries, but a rapid intervention force of 6,000 will remain in Senegal, Gabon, Chad and Cote d'Ivoire (though these may be cut later). Like the US and the

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