West losing influence in Africa?

 AFRICA HOPING TO END LAST VESTIGES OF COLONIALISM

WILL WESTERN MILTARY INTERVENTION RESUME?

In the last few years we have seen a growing list of countries attempting to separate themselves from their former colonial masters. This has been particularly focused on France with western Africa nations, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Senegal, Ivory coast and Central African Republic expelling or asking France to end military presence in their countries. Many of these countries ended their security agreements, often focused on counter terrorism by Islamic groups. Some claim that these terrorist's often were allied with France and the U.S. to cause division and disruption in their countries, whether this is true or not is probably not provable. These same countries have often hired private contractors from Russia and believe they have had better results.

The growing trend is to renegotiate contracts and agreements with western firms involved in resource development and pushing for maintaining a complete cycle of resources from extraction to refining to a finished product, rather than exporting raw materials and then being forced to repurchase refined products from abroad. They hope to then provide jobs and economic prosperity to their citizens. Some of this has been accomplished, but in some instances they could not reach a deal and it will inevitably lead to a conflict with France and other western powers. 

While Nigeria is closely allied with western countries it oil resources are exported as crude oil and then they repurchase refined product from out of the country. It is one example of them hoping to refine these products at home and be able to provide jobs and income from the country. This is a trend becoming widespread across Africa. 

The Sahel Union of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger now refine their gold at home and have begun trading in that gold. Mali has recently angered France over its Uranium resources, the main source for France. There is disputes over cobalt coming out of the Congo. It seems that many of these countries are getting better offers and better investment opportunities from China, which often agrees to build refineries and sign long term contracts that eventually allows these countries to own the assets and become more self sufficient.

While so far there has been an exodus of western military from Africa it can be expected that this may be due to being preoccupied with Ukraine and other crisis in other areas, they will attempt to exert influence again. We recently witnessed bombing by the U.S. over supposed Christians being killed in Nigeria, more likely a warning that they are becoming under economic scrutiny. Again, for now, Africa is not at the top of lists to be addressed with a whack a mole situation around the world.