Yako: Former Ivorian first lady Simone Gbagbo has criticized France’s influence in Africa, asserting that it has never been a beneficial advisor to the continent. In a recent appearance on the pan-African television program “Rendez-vous avec l’Afrique” on Voxafrica, she called for Africans to actively work towards liberation from French imperialism.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Gbagbo expressed her concerns about France’s historical and ongoing role in African politics. She claimed that during her tenure as first lady alongside her husband, Laurent Gbagbo, who was C´te d’Ivoire’s president from 2000 to 2011, they observed several factors that perpetuated French dominance over African nations. She highlighted that for many years, the agendas of ministerial councils in French-speaking African countries were dictated by France.
Gbagbo further elaborated, explaining that the French government often directed African leaders on which issues to address, while discouraging them from tackling others. She noted that African heads of state who resisted these directives faced severe consequences, including assassination or being overthrown, as was the case with President Gbagbo.
Emphasizing the need for change, Gbagbo urged African nations to resist these pressures and break free from what she described as a colonialist yoke. She underscored that African leaders were frequently compelled to meet certain demands imposed by France, a reality she believes must be challenged for the continent’s true independence.