The Dark Side To French-African Ties

NPR | Feb. 15, 2013 1:18 p.m.

Contributed By:

Eleanor Beardsley

play
pause
stop
mute
unmute
max volume

repeat
repeat off

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

President Francois Hollande's visit to Mali, after French troops routed Islamist extremists, brings to mind France's long relationship with its former colonies in Africa. African troops helped France and the allies defeat Hitler's forces, and Hollande expressed gratitude for that while he was in Mali. But there's also a dark side to the French-African connection.