FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Back in 1958 when African countries were gaining their independence, France did something diabolical to their then colonised African countries. France agreed to give them their independence only if they were to sign a pact for the continuation of colonisation. In this agreement, the countries had to deposit 85% of their bank reserves to the ministry of Finance in France, leaving these countries with only 15%. If these countries needed some money they would only borrow from France and they could only be given the loan of up to 20%.

This means they had to borrow their own money from France and they had to pay it back, crazy isn’t it? Obligation to ally with France in situations of war or global crisis. An agreement to speak French as their official language. In this colonial debt agreement, France had the first right to buy any natural resources of its former colonies. Guinea and Mali refused to be part of the agreement as a consequence of this, every infrastructure by France was destroyed: schools, buildings, libraries, churches.

They burned medicines, unscrewed light bulbs, animals were killed, food in warehouses were burned and poisoned. This was a message also to the other colonies that a rejection of France’s offer would have dire consequences. Because they were scared, 14 African countries (Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’ Ivoire, Niger, Togo, Senegal, Chad, DRC, Gabon, Mali,The Central Africa Republic, The Comoros and Equatorial Guinea) still pay colonial debt to France up to date. France is taking $500 billion from Africa every year. You may ask yourself, 62 years later WHY are the African leaders not doing anything? Because it goes deeper than that. They tried and failed dismally, 7 African presidents who wanted to bail out were assassinated. It doesn’t only happen with France but the other colonisers too, even America: smart leaders who want to liberate their countries get killed and the economies of their countries destabilised, Libya is a good example.

They even bring troops from other parts of Africa to fight on the side of the French. Comoros cannot pick a fight with France, Benin cannot pick a fight with France because they will fail dismally. VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS! but United Nations is quiet, the world is quiet. “African leaders are corrupt, Africans are dying of hunger, the poverty,  unemployment rate is high in Africa, WE ARE ASKING FOR DONATIONS FOR AFRICA....”the only song they sing out loud". The shackles on our legs and hands may be broken but we are still suffering from the legacy of slavery. We are still suffering from the legacy of colonisation.

Irrespective of the Author, I have toured the French colonies of Africa and the tragedy transcends  verbal/literal expression.