THE ILLUSION OF INDEPENDENCE IN AFRICA Part 1.
What if I told you that most African countries are not independent nations. What if I told you that the independence movements were simply an illusion, a front for ensuring the colonial status quo was still preserved without the presence of the colonialists themselves. The entire purpose of Independence is to set yourself totally free from the shackles of control by an institution. This institution could be the family, a company or in this case a country. This includes being independent of established mindsets, rules and what not. As an Independent nation, you get to charter your own destiny and build your society or yourself into your image, or the image that everyone wants in that society. So what happens if you are not able to do the things an independent nation is meant to do? Are you truly independent? I do not believe that freedom is ever given unconditionally because if one wants freedom it is something you must fight for. The reason being is that those who hold the power benefit from your servitude. Those who truly have been free have had to wrestle for freedom i.e. Algeria, United States.
The world was greeted by the sheer force of independence movements across Africa in the 1950’s and 60’s as former colonies on a daily basis were handed power. It was truly the dawn of a new era, an era of black nations finally being able to sit at the table of international politics and seemingly chart their own course. As stated earlier all of this was of course well planned out. Independence did not come at the convenience of African nations but rather at the convenience of colonial powers. The money they made from these colonies were making the home countries rich. The very idea of losing access to all those resources would spell disaster for them. So what happened? One big example to look at is France.
France was one of the first countries to recognize the need to preserve the control they had on their colonies. As early as 1944, the french would set up the Brazzaville conference to discuss France and its empire moving forward. Free French leaders from all over the world converged in Brazzaville and would eventually carve out a 6 point agenda that was positioned to create a better relationship with the indigenous subjects of the french empire. It is interesting to note that no indigenous person,no high ranking chief or king was invited to this conference. One of the conclusions of the conference was that independence was simply not an option. Charles De Gaulle would aptly state “The aims of France’s civilizing mission preclude any thought of autonomy or any possibility of development outside the French empire. Self-government must be rejected — even in the more distant future.” The entire point of the Brazzaville declaration was to cement control of the french colonies through inclusion rather than exclusion and violence as before.
Now all this seems like it had good intent but the true nature of the Brazzaville declaration would first manifest itself in 1958. In 1958 Sekou Toure of Guinea attempted to get out of the french colonial empire by opting for independence. The French administration in Guinea was so furious they decided to destroy everything they felt was a benefit of colonialism, as three thousand french left guinea anything that could not be taken; was burned and destroyed. Schools, hospitals, farms were all destroyed to send a message to the indigenous elite in french colonies that you dare not attempt to break away from this status quo. Sekou Toure would certainly not be the last to attempt to break his country away from France. Sylvanus Olympio in Togo and Modiba Keita in Mali all attempted to break away from the french clamp on their nations and both faced military coups and eventual death backed by the french government. France’s control on its African colonies is so strong that it has repeatedly sponsored coup d’etats to depose anybody that threatened that status quo. It then comes to no surprise that over 61% of military takeovers in Africa have happened in former french colonies(or that most former african colonies have faced military coups). France makes serious economic gains from its former colonies and it’s easy to see why they refuse to let go. All former French african colonies have their treasuries tied to the French Franc which makes it difficult to make independent economic decisions without letting Paris know. You have as much as $500 Billion a year that leaves African shores to Paris. It is evident that monetarily France’s former colonies mean so much to France; for instance former French President Jacques Chirac once stated openly that “Without Africa, France will slide down into the rank of a third [world] power”
France isn’t the only nation guilty of such an act, from Britain to Portugal to Belgium; each of these countries has made moves to ensure they maintain power by either installing institutions and or persons to do so. Anybody that dare stands up to this system that existed was removed or marginalized from power. Patrice Lumumba, the Southern elite in Nigeria or Thomas Sankara serve as a few examples…..
