Quote Originally Posted by KingJaja View Post
True, but there are other issues at play here.

The French know they are too weak to hold on to Francafrique forever & they guess they'll need some American help to protect their interests (against the rapidly advancing Chinese).

There's something known as Western interests (why the US has never felt the need to distance itself from the legacy of really awful former colonial masters in Africa like Belgium & Portugal is a never ending source of amazement) - anyway US & France need to work together to protect Western interests (whatever that means).

So China will force France & US to work together - and US will never query French policy in Africa. Hasn't done that once in 400 years, won't do that tomorrow.
I would be surprised if that happens ever. The idea that China in Africa is a threat for everybody since it is a threat to US is, IMHO, over rated.
France let Chad sell oil to China without any problems. It is even the french companies who denied the offer in the first place.
What is more interesting is the African wind of change that is now blowing on the China/Africa relations.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/wo...ber_274912827#!

The basic thinking that former and new colonial powers will take care of Africa security issues is, IMHO, also much over rated on the continent. Africa is adjusting, so should also the observers.