Tuesday, February 11, 2020

France in Africa: Is it all about the oil?



France is backing a Libyan warlord and Chad's dictator. Plus, the economic cost of Brexit.


Despite vowing to stop propping up strongmen in Africa, France is backing a Libyan warlord and Chad's dictator. 
Many welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s promise in 2017 to end what was known as “Francafrique”, or France’s sphere of influence over its former colonies in Africa. But many say France is still up to its old games.
In Libya, Macron has thrown his lot behind the renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, secretly supplying arms and training despite the UN and Libya’s former colonial power, Italy, backing the government in Tripoli. Forces loyal to Haftar have blockaded oil ports and have stopped pipelines, strangling the economy of much-needed funds.

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