French Africa Policy and the Fight against Terrorism in Mali

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue IX, September 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

French Africa Policy and the Fight against Terrorism in Mali

Big-Alabo, Tamunopubo¹, Okaoha, Kelvin System²

^1,2Dept of Political/Admin Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract:-The study examined the French African policy and the fight against terrorism in Mali. The study was guided by the theoretical framework of post-colonial theory as propounded by Aime Cesaire and Frantz fanon. The study looked at conceptual clarifications like the concept of foreign policy and the concept of terrorism. The study adopted the ex post facto research design where by data was gathered through mainly secondary source. The study further found out that the government of Mali played some roles in the fight against terrorism in the areas of legislation, law enforcement, border security, countering violent extremism and Mali government international and regional cooperation. The study further found that some measure where also taken by France against terrorism in Mali which include; clear political direction, avoiding political traps, economy of means initiative and concentration of forces and France boots on ground. Based on the findings the study recommended among others that the Malian government should use the opportunity of the crisis and war to develop a new strategic vision and roadmap for the future direction of post-war Mali on inclusive democratic politics and political accountability and organize a national political dialogue that will lead to a final settlement of the tuareg separatist grievances through an inclusive, negotiated political framework.

Keywords: Foreign policy, terrorism, military, neocolonialism.

I. INTRODUCTION

The historical backdrop of France and African states goes back to the mid seventeenth century. This is when France accessed African crude materials, executed forced work and spread French, language, civilization and Catholic religion (Bennyworth, 2011). In any case, Francophone Africa gained autonomy in the late 1950s and mid-1960s. From that point forward, Francophone Africa has remained chasse gardée (private chasing ground) of France. As indicated by Houngnikpo (2005) autonomy did not so much change uneven relations France built up with its previous settlements. This web of associations and understandings empowered France to concede autonomy that keeps on hunting these states. This suggests that freedom has failed to realize feasible improvement in a lot of West Africa. Rather, it enabled France to exploit its previous states.

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