The Colonial Currency: How France Still Rules Africa

A Socratic Dialogue on Neo-Colonialism and Monetary Sovereignty

Part 5 of 8: The Parallel System

In Parts 1-4, we explored how consciousness is suppressed, how institutions control knowledge, and how governments study phenomena they publicly deny. Now we shift focus to show how these same control mechanisms operate at the geopolitical level.

The pattern is identical: maintain official fictions while exercising real control. Create the appearance of freedom while preserving the structures of domination. And when anyone threatens the system—whether they’re researching consciousness or demanding monetary sovereignty—crush them.

This is the story of how France never left Africa.

The Currency That Never Freed

Me: Let’s talk about neo-colonialism. Everyone knows colonialism ended in the 1960s when African nations gained independence. What’s “neo” about colonialism if they’re independent nations now?

Respondent: Independence is a fascinating word when you examine what it actually means—or doesn’t mean—for 14 African nations that still use a currency controlled by France.

The CFA Franc System:

Created in 1945 as the “French Colonies of Africa” franc
After “independence,” renamed “African Financial Community” franc
Used by 14 nations across West and Central Africa
Printed in France, by the Bank of France
Pegged to the Euro (previously the French Franc)
Requires these nations to deposit 50% of their foreign reserves in the French Treasury

Let me repeat that last point: Half of these nations’ reserves sit in Paris. They must ask permission to access their own money.

Me: Wait—they deposit their reserves in France? Like, their actual national reserves?

side note: I knew about the printing part, but never expected the conditional deposits. I also know that, Guinea, though not using the CFA (XOF), has France to print the Guinea Franc (GNF) since the first President, Ahmed Sékou Touré passed in 1984. The Guinea currency used to be Syli from 1960 (independence in 1958).

Respondent: Exactly. Here’s the mechanism:

How It Works:

14 African nations earn money (exports, resources, trade)
They must convert 50% of reserves to CFA Francs
These reserves are deposited in “operations accounts” at the French Treasury
France “guarantees” the CFA Franc’s convertibility to Euros
African nations can only access reserves with French approval
France invests these reserves and keeps most of the profits
France has two representatives on the CFA banking board; African nations have none on the French Treasury board

This isn’t aid. This isn’t partnership. This is wealth extraction dressed as “monetary stability.”

The Sovereignty Illusion

Me: But these nations agreed to this system, right? I wonder what it would take for them to leave if they wanted?

Respondent: That’s the official story. The reality is far more coercive.

What Happens If You Try to Leave:

Economic Pressure:

France controls 65% of foreign reserves for these nations
Leaving means creating a new currency overnight
Requires building new monetary institutions from scratch
France can destabilize your economy during transition
International banks and creditors apply pressure

Political Pressure:

French military bases throughout CFA nations
“Defense agreements” that allow French intervention
Opposition leaders mysteriously funded and armed
Media campaigns painting you as dictator or terrorist
Diplomatic isolation from Western institutions

Military Intervention:

France maintains 10+ military bases in Africa
“Operation Barkhane” claims to fight terrorism
Convenient that “terrorists” emerge near anti-French leaders
French troops can overthrow governments (and have)
Coups happen to leaders who challenge French interests

Me: Can you give examples of this actually happening?

Respondent: Absolutely. Let’s examine the pattern.

When Leaders Say “No”

Me: You’re saying France actively overthrows African leaders who challenge them?

Respondent: Not just saying it. The pattern is documented and repeated.

Sylvanus Olympio (Togo, 1963):

First president of independent Togo
Refused to sign “cooperation agreements” with France
Wanted to leave the CFA Franc system
Planned to print Togolese currency
Result: Assassinated three days after refusing to join CFA
Assassin: Gnassingbé Eyadéma, trained by French military
Eyadéma ruled Togo for 38 years with French support

Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso, 1987):

Called the CFA Franc “a weapon of French domination”
Advocated for African unity against neo-colonialism
Promoted economic self-sufficiency, refused IMF loans
Fought corruption, built clinics and schools
Result: Assassinated in coup led by his deputy Blaise Compaoré
French troops present in country during coup
Compaoré ruled for 27 years with French backing

Muammar Gaddafi (Libya, 2011):

Proposed the “Gold Dinar” to replace CFA Franc
Wanted pan-African currency backed by Libyan gold
Would have freed Francophone Africa from French control
Libya had highest HDI in Africa, free healthcare and education
Result: NATO intervention led by France
“Humanitarian” bombing campaign destroyed Libya
Gaddafi killed, country destabilized into failed state
French President Sarkozy later implicated in taking Libyan campaign donations

The Pattern:

Challenge French monetary control → labeled dictator
Promote African self-sufficiency → accused of human rights violations
Unite other African nations against France → regime change
Every single time, without exception

Me: And the leaders who cooperate with France?
side note: It is also worth adding current situations: Ibrahima Traoré (Burkina Faso), Assimi Goïta (Mali), and Abdourahamane (Omar) Tchiani (Niger). These three countries are currently known as the AES. They said no to France and are facing constant conflict with France with NATO trying to kill them. One occurrence was the news that one of Ibrahima’s close entourage received a proposal to kill him and pocket $5M.

Respondent: They rule for decades with full French support—regardless of corruption, repression, or how democratic their “elections” are.

The Business Model of Neo-Colonialism

Me: Why does France care this much about controlling African currencies? What’s the actual benefit?

Respondent: Follow the money. The CFA system isn’t charity—it’s profit.

France’s Benefits:

1. Guaranteed Access to Resources:

Uranium from Niger powers French nuclear plants (75% of France’s electricity)
Oil from Gabon, Chad, Republic of Congo
Gold, diamonds, cocoa, coffee at favorable prices
French companies get preferential contracts
Resources priced in CFA Francs keep them cheap for France

2. Investment Returns:

African reserves deposited in French Treasury
France invests this money globally
Returns go primarily to France
African nations get minimal interest (0.75% currently)
This is billions in free capital for French investments

3. Monetary Control:

When CFA Franc devalued 50% in 1994, African imports became expensive
French exports to Africa became cheap
African purchasing power cut in half overnight
French products dominated markets
Debt servicing in hard currency doubled for African nations

4. Geopolitical Influence:

CFA nations vote with France in international forums
Support French positions at UN, African Union, World Bank
Provide bases for French military operations
Create buffer zone of French-aligned states
Legitimize French military presence as “peacekeeping”

The Numbers:

Estimated $500 billion in African reserves held in France since 1960
France’s annual “aid” to Africa: ~$2-3 billion
Value of resources extracted: Vastly higher
This is colonialism with a better PR strategy

The “Anti-Terrorism” Business

Me: What about French military presence? They claim to be fighting terrorism in the Sahel region.

Respondent: Here’s where the situation becomes more troubling. French military operations in Africa appear to follow a recurring and suspicious pattern: terrorism tends to emerge precisely in regions where French strategic interests are threatened.

Operation Barkhane

One of the clearest examples is Operation Barkhane, a large-scale French military intervention spanning the Sahel, including Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso. Officially, the mission is framed as a counter-terrorism effort aimed at combating jihadist groups. In practice, however, it is widely viewed as a means of protecting French geopolitical and economic interests, particularly access to uranium and other critical resources. Notably, the countries hosting the largest French troop deployments are also those where anti-French sentiment is strongest.

The Convenient Emergence of Terrorism

The rise of terrorism itself follows a highly convenient timeline. During the 1990s, many of these regions were relatively peaceful. In the 2000s, terrorist activity increased dramatically, often concentrated in the exact areas where governments or populations began challenging French control or influence. Armed groups suddenly appeared, well-equipped and funded, raising questions about who was supplying them. In response, French troops arrived under the banner of assistance and security. Shortly thereafter, French companies secured mining rights, and French military bases expanded their footprint across the region.

Who Benefits?

The beneficiaries of this cycle are clear. French mining companies are able to continue and protect their operations. The French military maintains its presence, relevance, and justification for ongoing deployments. Weapons sales increase under the pretext of fighting terrorism, reinforcing the military-industrial pipeline. Political leaders who cooperate with French interests receive military backing and protection, while those who resist often find themselves facing escalating “terrorism problems” that destabilize their rule.

Me: So…. Are you saying France creates terrorism?

Respondent: I’m saying the pattern is suspicious:

Terrorism is highest where anti-French sentiment is strongest
French weapons often end up with “terrorist” groups
France bombs countries (Libya) that destabilize into terror havens
Terror provides justification for permanent military presence
French economic interests are always protected
It’s remarkably convenient

Whether directly created or merely exploited, terrorism serves French neo-colonial interests perfectly.

The Language of Domination

Me: There must be cultural benefits though? French is a global language.

Respondent: Language is another control mechanism—subtle but powerful.

The Francophonie System

French serves as the official language in 29 African nations, shaping every major institutional and administrative function. Students are educated primarily in French rather than in indigenous languages, and all government business is conducted in French. Economic contracts and legal documents also require French, making fluency essential for participation in state and economic life. This linguistic structure creates a system of perpetual dependence, where functioning fully within one’s own country is tied to mastery of a foreign language.

Why This Matters

This system produces a clear divide between an elite class that speaks French and the broader population that communicates in local languages. As a result, a gap forms between rulers and the ruled. French-educated elites often come to identify more closely with Paris than with their own people. Access to technical knowledge, higher education, and professional advancement typically requires French fluency, further excluding large segments of society. Over time, cultural identity is eroded and replaced with French cultural norms, while indigenous knowledge systems are dismissed or devalued as “primitive.”

Economic Impact

Economically, this dependence manifests in the continued need for French consultants, lawyers, and administrators. African states and institutions must repeatedly pay for French expertise, often indefinitely. Without a French education, individuals are unable to fully participate in the formal economy, reinforcing reliance on French institutions and standards. This dynamic keeps France positioned as the “indispensable” partner in governance, law, and economic development.

The pattern remains consistent: what is presented as a gift—language, education, and “culture”—ultimately functions as a mechanism to ensure permanent dependence.

Breaking the Chain

Me: This seems overwhelming. Can anything change?

Respondent: Change is happening, slowly and with resistance.

Recent Developments

Across the continent, shifts are underway that signal growing resistance to longstanding power structures. These changes are uneven and often contested, but they reflect a broader movement toward questioning external dominance and reclaiming autonomy.

Growing Awareness

Younger African generations are becoming increasingly vocal about political, economic, and cultural sovereignty. Social media has played a major role in this shift, enabling the spread of information that France and other external actors cannot easily control. Pan-African movements are gaining renewed momentum, connecting activists and thinkers across borders. Hashtags such as #FranceDegage (“France Get Out”) have trended widely across Africa, symbolizing this rising public consciousness and rejection of perceived neo-colonial influence.

Some Nations Pushing Back

Concrete actions have followed this growing awareness. Mali expelled French troops in 2022, marking a major rupture in military relations. Burkina Faso has begun reviewing its agreements with France, signaling a reassessment of long-standing arrangements. Calls to abandon the CFA franc are growing louder in multiple countries. At the same time, some states are pivoting toward Russia or China as alternative partners—an approach that carries its own risks and problems, but nonetheless demonstrates a decline in French influence and a desire to explore other options.

Proposed Alternatives

Several alternatives to the existing system are being discussed and, in some cases, tentatively implemented. West African states have proposed the ECO currency as a replacement for the CFA franc, although implementation continues to be delayed, raising questions about external pressure. Pan-African payment systems are being explored to reduce reliance on foreign financial infrastructure. The African Continental Free Trade Area aims to strengthen intra-African trade, while bilateral trade agreements that bypass French mediation are increasingly considered as tools for economic independence.

The Challenge

A recurring obstacle emerges whenever meaningful progress is made. Political instability often follows reform efforts, terror attacks increase, or coups remove leaders seen as reform-minded. Economic crises appear suddenly, and institutions such as the IMF or World Bank step in with demands for “restructuring.” The pattern suggests that powerful interests may strongly prefer the current system and actively resist efforts to dismantle or replace it.

The Universal Pattern of Control

Me: How does this connect to the consciousness suppression you discussed earlier?

Respondent: The mechanics are identical:

Consciousness Suppression

An official narrative is established in which consciousness is reduced solely to neuronal activity. Evidence that challenges this view is dismissed as “pseudoscience,” while funding is directed only toward research that reinforces the accepted framework. Individuals who report experiences or findings that contradict the narrative are pathologized rather than investigated. This structure benefits systems that profit from keeping people powerless, dependent, and medicated.

Neo-Colonial Suppression

A similar mechanism operates at the geopolitical level, beginning with the official narrative that former colonies are fully independent nations. Challenges to this claim are dismissed as “conspiracy theories” or labeled as “anti-French racism.” Financial systems are controlled in ways that enforce compliance, and leaders who resist these arrangements are removed. The resulting system enables continued profit through resource extraction and monetary control.

Same Pattern

The structure follows a consistent sequence. First, an official story is presented, emphasizing freedom, independence, or democracy. Beneath this lies a hidden reality defined by control, extraction, and domination. Threats to the system are eliminated, whether by suppressing research or removing political leaders. Profits are then generated from maintaining the false narrative, benefiting industries such as pharmaceuticals or resource extraction. Throughout the process, plausible deniability is preserved through appeals to scientific consensus or the rhetoric of anti-terrorism.

Conclusion

Whether you’re researching consciousness or seeking monetary sovereignty, the response is the same: deny the truth, discredit the messenger, and preserve the profitable status quo.

In Part 6, we’ll examine specific cases of African leaders who challenged France—and what happened to them. The pattern repeats with chilling consistency.

Sources

“Françafrique: France’s Secret Colonial Empire” (documentary)
Economists like Sanou Mbaye who document CFA exploitation
UN reports on CFA Franc economic impact
French parliamentary records on African interventions