Why is France playing a game of cops and robbers in Africa?

France has sent more than 5,000 troops to the Sahel region of Africa, claiming to help regional nations fight terrorism.

The Sahel lies south of the Sahara Desert and extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the West and to the Red Sea in east.

A region the size of Europe and rich in natural resources such as oil, gold, diamonds, uranium, cobalt, etc., which includes the countries of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

In the last decade, the presence of French military forces in the Sahel has coincided with growing tribal and ethnic divisions in the region, as well as the activities of terrorist groups such as ISIS, al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.

Mali’s Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga said in October: he has evidence the French military is supporting and training terrorist groups in the West African nation.

Last week, several thousand demonstrators in Burkina Faso blocked a French military convoy passing through the country. The protesters believed the French military was transporting large amounts of weapons and ammunition to the terrorists.

The French military opened fire and wounded a number of people.

The French convoy, which arrived in Africa in Ivory Coast earlier this month, has crossed Burkina Faso and on Friday entered Niger on its way to central Mali.

Former French President François Mitterrand once aid that without Africa, France would have no place in the 21st century. Another former French learder, Jacques Chirac, stated similar remarks in 2008, saying that without Africa, France will fall to the rank of third world country.

The current French president also stressed a few days ago that France will remain in Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Niger to help fight terrorism.

France has used terrorist groups to justify its long-time presence and looting of Africa’s natural resources.

An overview of the realities in Africa shows why France launched a game of “cops and robbers” in the continent.

The metals of the Eiffel Tower, like the steel used in the French automotive industry, are supplied from Algeria and Mauritania.

The uranium needed by France for power nuclear reactors comes from Niger and Chad's precious mines.

France imports fuel from Algeria and Gabon. French chocolate is made by cocoa from Ivory Coast. The French jewelry industry uses gold imported from Mali and diamonds from Guinea.

Congolese cobalt is used in the manufacture of French telecommunications equipment, French perfumes from rose flowers in the Comoros, and French yarn from Senegal. Congolese wood is also used for French woodwork and furniture.

These facts sufficiently illustrate the reason for France's hypocritical games in support of terrorist groups in Africa.

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