what is france up to?, page-19

re: what is france up to? .... protecting iraqi oi Hi Gaweb,

Ivory Coast may not be a part of Arabia, but it does form part of the French precinct in Africa, shares a common land border with a number of countries, including Mauritania, and has 3 large /significant cultural groupings, among them a significant Muslim minority.

I do, however, agree that it may well be in France's best interests to uphold peace in the region (out of former colonialist loyalties, etc).

Admittedly, France has tried to broker a peace deal which, last week, was accepted in Paris, but now appears to be in jeopardy. Neither the UN, nor the EU, were a part of that process, and neither international grouping has been invited to participate, or assist, in any of the current /recent actions.

France has, therefore, acted unilaterally in this matter for whatever the reasons are.

When President Gbagbo was elected in October 2000, only France recognised the legitimacy of his election. None of the other expected interest groups, such as the OAU, South Africa, Nigeria, the UN, the USA, or the EU (for that matter) accepted that legiimacy.

That said, France's motives for being in Ivory Coast appear multi-faceted in nature, only some of which appear humanitarian, and the remainder of which appear to be strategic, defensive, commercial, economic, and /or politically motivated.

It may not all be about oil, but it nonetheless is about much the same thing - pursuing France's neo-colonialist ambitions in Africa.

Funny, is that not what France has accused the USA of doing in the M-E?