French Foreign Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa since the End of the Cold War

I spent a summer in Paris conducting research on French foreign policy in sub-Saharan Africa since the end of the Cold War. My project focused on recent interventions by France in countries like Ivory Coast, Mali, and the Central African Republic. Through interviews with academics, diplomats, and other experts, I answered some basic questions about French Africa policy: Why does France continue to intervene in Africa? How does the relationship between France and Africa today compare to the murky and sometimes illicit ties – “Françafrique” – that existed during the Cold War? What roles do the French elite and the French public play in shaping Africa policy? Ultimately, I explored the relevance of these French interventions to U.S. foreign policy. America has also launched recent military interventions, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and attempted to leave stronger, secure, and more democratic states behind. Moreover, the U.S. and France have worked alongside regional and international partners during and after the interventions. What, if anything, can be learned from the experiences of the French?