It has long been alleged that France asserts its position in the world by pursuing a willfully independent foreign policy. That may be true. But while its deplorable decision to ban the wearing of Islamic headscarves in state schools has damaged its reputation in the Middle East, France’s consistent opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq has earned it widespread respect here.
In fact, French foreign policy is not consistently opportunistic. There is generally a rationale. French policy toward its former West African colonies long extended to the provision of a unified and stable currency with parity to the old French franc. The French also maintain shadowy military bases, which local rulers hope will come to their assistance in times of insurrection.
French involvement in its former Arab colonial possessions has been less happy. But it is clear that France at present recognizes residual obligations to its old territory of Chad. This country’s already pitiful resources are being stretched by an influx of more than 100,000 refugees who have fled fighting in the Darfur region of the western Sudan. Altogether some 600,000 Darfuris have been displaced by fighting in the year since rebels took up arms complaining of neglect by Khartoum. The humanitarian issue of sheltering and feeding them is being addressed, in part with French help. The French have done more than simply open their pocket books. They have set out to see if they cannot bring an end to the conflict. A high-ranking delegation led by the foreign minister himself, Dominique de Villepin, recently visited first Chad and then Sudan, specifically to heal the divisions in Darfur.
It is not yet clear precisely what initiatives will emerge from this diplomacy. A first fruit, however, is the reported start of a return by some 10,000 refugees to the Darfur area, although that may also reflect claims by Khartoum to have re-established control over Darfur. That may turn out be a premature announcement. If so, at least with French help the government in Khartoum can establish a dialogue with local insurgents, thus allowing more refugees to go home. French intervention in a conflict which has attracted no other honest broker is therefore to be welcomed. The Darfur insurrection has apparently come about because the locals feel neglected by the distant central government. Paris clearly sees that this new insurrection will add to the already considerable agonies and instability elsewhere in the region. Though acting initially in the interests of the government and people of Chad, its intervention might therefore have the knock-on effect of easing confrontation elsewhere. The UN, whose primary job the search for stability must be, should therefore be grateful for this initiative.
Perhaps the UK, the former colonial power in the Sudan, should try to complement French efforts.
