Timi Frank urges African leaders to deepen strategic alliance with US

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Tuesday urged African leaders to strengthen strategic partnerships with the United States instead of entering into fresh agreements with France, accusing the European nation of exploiting Africa for decades without meaningful development.

Frank, in a statement reacting to the ongoing “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit” being attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and several African leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Nairobi, Kenya, said African countries, particularly in West Africa, had little to show for years of French influence despite their abundant natural resources.

He argued that recent political developments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger had exposed what he described as France’s exploitative relationship with African nations.

“France has nothing more to offer Africa. African leaders must not fall into any new arrangement that will drag the continent back into economic and political bondage,” he said.

According to him, the military takeovers in some Francophone African countries had opened the eyes of many Africans to what he termed “decades of exploitation.”

“Since the military takeover in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Africans have seen clearly that France was only using the people and their resources without giving anything meaningful in return,” he stated.

He maintained that African leaders should instead pursue stronger bilateral relations with the United States, especially in the areas of insecurity, election integrity, trade, and investment.

“We believe Africa will get a better deal with the United States than with France. The areas we should focus on are insecurity, election integrity and stronger bilateral economic ties,” he said.

The international affairs adviser also called for increased cooperation with the US in tackling terrorism and strengthening democratic institutions across the continent.

As the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, Frank said African leaders should renegotiate terms of engagement with the United States in ways that would directly benefit African citizens.

“Wherever we feel the United States has not done well in the past, it is our responsibility to identify those areas and renegotiate better terms that will benefit Africa,” he added.

He described France’s long-standing influence in parts of Africa as “modern slavery,” alleging that Paris had historically supported leaders who protected French interests regardless of the wishes of their citizens.

“As long as African leaders are doing France’s bidding, France will protect them even when their people no longer want them in office,” he claimed.

He cited Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin Republic, and Cameroon as examples of countries still under what he described as France’s stranglehold on their once-thriving economies.

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He further argued that countries distancing themselves from French control were beginning to witness improvements.

“Since they broke away from France, countries like Burkina Faso have shown signs of doing better. That proves Africa does not need France to survive,” he said.

The political activist also endorsed the idea of an Africa-US summit, describing it as more productive than renewed France-Africa engagements.

“Africa-US summit will benefit Africa more than any France-Africa arrangement. African leaders should focus on building stronger ties with the United States,” he said.

He further expressed optimism that the administration of President Donald Trump would offer Africa a more beneficial partnership based on mutual interests and democratic values.