France never
really granted independence to their African colonies.
First, as an example, when France have Haiti its independence, it left them with such a large debt that the impact is still felt today, and the ramifications on the US and Dominican Republic from migrant flows is still happening to their day. With Haiti being basically a failed state.
Second, After the Second World War, the US basically gave the French control of parts of Africa so they could build themselves back up again, and not just to counter Soviet influence.
French companies control African resources, post independence, to the point that if these countries want to trade with the western world, they have to not divest French companies and open up to competition. Sure Chinese companies and others are operating in those parts of Africa, but the influence/economic share of key industries France acquired during colonialism it has not relinquished.
Finally, Any African leader the challenges French influence in Africa, gets a visit from the French foreign legion or other French means.
African people are unable to compete in the global market place and are forced to look for economic activities, hence the migrant flows of mostly young men.
End France-Afrique and help Africa become truly free and hopefully the migrant flows will drop. This is similar to Latin America and the US. Only now, Latin American birth rates are dropping so we don’t see as many people from Mexico but we see a lot of people from the politically unstable nations like Venezuela.
The longer reforms (reforms to the relations between France and Africa as well as the US and Latin America) take, China will make more an more inroads into Africa and Latin America because it doesn’t have the colonialist baggage