The French are as neocolonist as the Bush government, they condemned the u.s action in iraq primarely because of losing their own economic interests
overthere.
Another reason: Oilpeak.
There is enough oil in the world to last another 100 years, but demand is growing so much we have trouble pumping it up fast enough, so prices
skyrocket.
Dick Cheney notet in a report several years ago that Africa must ramp up production with 15-25% in 10 years. In order to "secure" this, u.s.a
millitary suport is given to the Pan-Sahel pact: Mali, Niger, Tsjad and Mauretania
We already see the exploration of new oil fields in Gabon and Kenia etc, since the oilflow from the middle-east is a bit troublesome lately....
Also Europe doesn't want to left behind and is investing again in the "forgotten continent" Africa and hence also French millitary
interventions.
In the near future Africa will be the scene of numerous resourcewars, where america and Europe compete, all wrapped up in a semi religious black
muslims against black christian cover.


