FRENCH DIPLOMACY IN AFRICA

North Africa is pretty much France's backyard. Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria are all former French colonies, as are states to the south such as Niger and Chad. France has also had a long-standing relationship with Egypt, dating back to Napoleonic times. Only Libya is outside of its natural sphere of influence.

Why then has it made such a mess of things lately? A mess that finally resulted in the resignation of France's Foreign Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie on Sunday night. The answer lies in the way that France does diplomacy in Africa. First, find a local strongman, that is reliably pro-French. Secondly, back the strongman to the hilt, with armed force if necessary, particularly when he first seizes power. Thirdly, manage the relationship on a personal basis, strongman to Elysee Palace, bypassing normal diplomatic channels. And lastly, ignore said strongman's rigged elections, venal corruption and acquisition of foreign assets (often chateaux in France), if the quid pro quo is French influence in the country and contracts for French firms.

That strategy sits ill with the current demands across the region for democracy and freedom, particularly freedom from the domestic oppressions of the various strongmen. In the first days of the Tunisian uprising that sparked off the whole wave of protests, Ms. Alliot-Marie was holidaying in the country. It turns out that she took free trips in the private jet of a local business tycoon with extremely close links to the (now deposed) President. When she returned to France, she then offered the services of the French secret service to the Tunisian police force, who were in the process of killing demonstrators. It's hard to think of a more gaffe-prone performance.

Ms. Alliot-Marie has been replaced by Alain Juppe, who did the job before from 1993 to 1995, and was Prime Minister under Jacques Chirac from 1995 to 1997. This is a major rehabilitation for Mr. Juppe, who was convicted in 2004 of abuse of public funds, following the use by his political party of employees of the city of Paris, long run by Mr. Chirac, and given a suspended prison sentence. However, Ministers with scandal attached to them are also common in France. It remains to be seen whether that policy is as ill-advised in the long run as the way that France has managed its clients in Africa.

Walter Blotscher