This archive report was first published on 4 October 2021.
Published on October 4, 2021, the conviction of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy for campaign finance impropriety has sparked a renewed debate about the relationship between France and Africa.
While Sarkozy's case is notable, it is not an isolated incident. In fact, it is part of a long history of French politicians seeking easy money from African dictators.
As Jenerali Ulimwengu notes, 'thieves in France who steal from the French people are more speedily apprehended and sent to jail while in Africa thieves continually go to parliament and the presidential palace.'
This disconnect has maintained Africa as a 'huge hunting ground for cash to acquire political office in the metropole.'
Ulimwengu argues that this is because 'the big boys in Paris repay the favour by maintaining unpopular regimes in their neo-colonial empire long after the suffering African people have tired of them.'
As the youth of Africa grapple with the complexities of governance and corruption, Ulimwengu's commentary serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in African politics.
