The end of La Françafrique?

In a visit to South Africa earlier this week, French president Nicolas Sarkozy promised then end of La Françafrique. Members of Sarkozy's government have made similar comments.

Sarkozy also promised to engage with the entire continent, not just traditional French spheres of influence.

But his promise to end La Françafrique is most significant. The term was coined by the late Ivorian leader Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Although Houphouët apparently used it in a positive sense, the term has come to refer to French neo-colonialism in Africa.

To that end, Sarkozy promised to make public all of France's military agreements with African countries.

Promises are a dime a dozen so it will be interesting to see if France's policies toward Africa change in any meaningful way. It's hard to believe that 50 years of patronizing, bullying and exploitative behavior is going to change quickly... if at all.