This Wednesday, May 25, 2022, thousands of activists and supporters of a radical left political party organized a demonstration in the South African capital, Pretoria. The pretext for this march was to demand the immediate departure of France from the African continent.
Taxed as imperialist, France is no longer welcome in many African countries, including South Africa. Thus, during this demonstration, members and supporters of the Fighters for Economic Freedom (EFF) party, a party led by Julius Malema, wearing red t-shirts and caps marked with a logo in the shape of an Africa, held up placards on which various messages could be read such as: ”France out”, ”France’s wealth on the backs of Africans” or ”Reparations for colonial crimes”. Arrived aboard several buses provided for the occasion, the demonstrators, including Congolese and Cameroonians, went to the streets adjoining the French Embassy in South Africa to begin their demonstration. Later, they were joined by a small Malian community. The latter wore t-shirts in tribute to Colonel Assimi Goïta.
An open truck served as a podium for the leaders of the demonstration. One of them, perched on this podium, repeatedly chanted “Fuck off France, fuck off”. The ecstatic crowds took up this slogan in chorus. Julius Malema himself came to the stage and invited the French ambassador to come and receive a memorandum in these terms: “No one is going to hit you. You have killed many people in Africa. Why are you afraid, today, to go out and face Africans? Fighters! Let’s sing, because we won’t leave”
Then the demonstrators approached the gates of the embassy which were carefully protected by a cordon of police deployed for the occasion. Among the demonstrators, we note the presence of Egountchi Behanzin, creator of the Black African Defense League. An organization dissolved by the French government, which considered it racist and calling for hatred.
Speaking to reporters, Leigh-Ann Mathys, a spokeswoman for the left-wing party said: “France has its dirty little fingers still deep in its former French colonies. African countries cannot breathe. It’s not just France, but France is there on the front line. Today, we are telling France to let Africa manage its affairs independently”. Following in his footsteps, another leader by the name of Sinawo Thambo added that: “The EFF will always fight against Western imperialism. The France-Africa relationship must change, African countries must be considered as partners and not just as suppliers of raw materials. »
Reacting to this demonstration, the French Embassy in South Africa specified that France remains a strong partner of South Africa and that Macron’s country fully respects the integrity, sovereignty and independence of all African nations. The statement goes on to mention that the two countries are working together in many sectors and will work to strengthen their ties and cooperation.
Julius Malema’s party thus joins the Malian junta led by Colonel Assimi Goïta. The latter and his transitional government almost eradicated French action in his country. This by committing strong acts such as the dismissal of the French ambassador to Mali in his country, the withdrawal of the French military troops Barkhane from the country, and the banning of the French media France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) on the lands Malians.
Julius Malema’s party has made 8 demands, the strongest of which is to stop French as an official language in Africa. The EFF expects a response within 14 days, in which case a special program intended to weaken and thwart the continued colonization of France in Africa will be set up.
