The position taken by the leaders of the M5S has sparked a hornet's nest of controversy, the deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio and the former parliamentarian Alessandro Di Battista against France. The two accused the French of being primarily responsible for the migrations by virtue of their colonial policy in Africa which continues today through the colonial Franco (Franco CFA). The Paris government went into a rage, recalling the Italian ambassador for clarifications and effectively opening a diplomatic crisis. Il Speciale discussed it with the economist Ilaria Bifarini, author of the book The Colonists of austerity. Africa, neoliberalism and mass migration.
What do you think of Di Maio and Di Battista's denunciations of French foreign policy in Africa?
“The Pandora's box of French neocolonialism in Africa has finally been opened? It would appear to be the continuation of Paris' imperial rule over its former colonies, a project, developed at the time of De Gaulle, which takes the name of Francafrique and which even seems to be strengthened under Macron. It would operate through the depletion of Africa's rich natural heritage, the monopoly exercised by French multinationals and the fueling of coups d'état or internal wars, which keep these territories in a state of perpetual chaos. This interference by France has prevented and continues to prevent the development of these unfortunate areas of the world."
The CFA franc really represents an obstacle to the development of these countries?
“In my opinion, yes. Fourteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa (mostly “former” French colonies) adopt a common currency, first linked to the franc, today to the Euro. To guarantee this convertibility the French Treasury holds well the 50% of the foreign exchange reserves of these countries, until a few years ago even the 65%. Deprive a regional area, what's more, so vast, of its monetary sovereignty means severing the roots of local economic development. The level of poverty and underdevelopment found in these countries is indicative of how incompatible this currency is with local economic growth: most of them are at the bottom of the human development index rankings. Attempts to break away from this colonial currency are numerous in African history, starting from the first president of Togo Olympio, who was assassinated shortly after calling a referendum to abolish the CFA franc, to the attack in Libya against Gaddaffi, who seems to have started the project of a pan-African currency".
While the mainstream stops at the colonial period, In your book you tell the story of African postcolonial history.
“Already, this is exactly the mistake: attribute all the blame for African underdevelopment to the colonial period, without taking an interest in and analyzing what has happened on this continent in recent decades. Why, despite billions of dollars in development aid, Africa is still in this state of underdevelopment and poverty that shows no signs of improving? What are the policies imposed through the Structural Adjustment Plans (NOT) by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and why they didn't work? Because French colonial rule has never been broken, and the only real threat today seems to be posed by the new Chinese competitor? These are all questions that need an answer in order to understand and address the phenomenon of migration at its origins, which is the inevitable consequence of the neocolonial phenomenon in Africa".
Paris immediately summoned the Italian ambassador. He believes that these statements by the 5 stars will have effects on international balances?
“I believe that France and the international community, European specifically, they cannot avoid making amends now. On the other hand, Francafrique has been defined as 'the longest scandal of the Republic' (Verschave). It's time to put an end to it and say no to double standards, which rebukes and inflicts punishments on the countries of the South and allows others - who claim the status of virtuous - to exercise undisturbed policies of new "exploitation"".
source – https://www.lospecialegiornale.it/2019/01/22/parla-leconomista-bifarini-ecco-la-francafrique-e-come-si-fa-ancora-colonialismo/