By Emmanuel Kwada
In a scathing critique of lingering neocolonialism, prominent Kenyan intellectual and Pan-Africanist Professor Patrick Loch Otieno (PLO) Lumumba has asserted that France no longer holds its former colonies and is experiencing a swift erosion of influence across West Africa.
Lumumba singled out French President Emmanuel Macron for remaining “imprisoned by France’s past,” stubbornly holding onto the outdated notion of enduring imperial dominance.
Lumumba contrasted Macron’s mindset with that of U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he described as grounded in present-day geopolitical realities.
According to Lumumba, Trump openly dismisses Macron precisely because he recognizes France’s diminished status on the continent.
The scholar predicted a humbling reversal of fortunes, envisioning a weakened Macron soon arriving at the White House as a “supplicant,” pleading for relevance in a shifting global order.
These remarks, shared in a widely circulated video statement, align with Lumumba’s longstanding commentary on France’s declining role in its traditional spheres of influence.
Over recent years, several West African nations including: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and others have witnessed military-led transitions that have openly rejected French military presence, economic arrangements like the CFA franc system, and political interference.
Coups and popular movements in the Sahel region have accelerated this shift, with governments pivoting toward partnerships with Russia, China, and other actors.
Lumumba’s analysis frames France’s challenges as a direct consequence of neocolonial practices that have persisted long after formal independence.
He has repeatedly highlighted how Paris continues to exert control through economic mechanisms, political proxies, and military interventions, even as resistance grows.
In earlier addresses, Lumumba has described France’s approach as particularly exploitative compared to other former colonial powers, warning that its “wings are being clipped on a daily basis.”
The comments come amid heightened global attention to Africa’s evolving international alignments, especially under Trump’s administration, which has emphasized pragmatic, interest-driven diplomacy over traditional alliances.
Lumumba’s prediction of Macron seeking favor from Trump underscores a broader narrative of Western powers grappling with a multipolar world where Africa’s strategic importance is increasingly recognized beyond old colonial ties.
Professor Lumumba, a celebrated orator and former director of Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Commission, remains one of Africa’s most vocal advocates for genuine decolonization, mental emancipation, and self-reliance.
His latest intervention has sparked widespread discussion across social media and Pan-African platforms, with many echoing his call for the continent to fully break free from external domination.
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