Suspending cynicism for just a minute I have to praise France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy for his recent unequivocal assertions that Africa must be given a greater global role. Now, his remarks took place at a France-Africa summit in Nice, so it was in Sarkozy’s interest to play nice in Nice (ok — consider it a modest suspension of cynicism, and pardon the pun). Still, France has generally shown more concern and interest in the welfare of its former African colonies than other European countries (it’s all relative), which can easily slide into meddling but also gives France more credibility than, say, Portugal, or even England.
