France, long a dominant force in Africa and a pillar of the euro zone, is facing a dramatic series of challenges that are shaking its economic and political foundations. As of September 2025, the reverberations of these crises are being felt not only in Paris, but across the broader euro zone, prompting questions about the future of France’s influence in Africa and its role in the European economy.
For decades, France’s presence in Africa was nearly synonymous with power. Through military bases, economic arrangements like the CFA currency zone, and a web of political ties known as Françafrique, Paris maintained a strong grip on its former colonies. But now, that grip is loosening at a pace few in the French establishment seemed prepared for. According to business a.m., six African countries—Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic, and Chad—are at various stages of disengaging from France. The trend is especially pronounced in West Africa, but Central Africa is not immune.