PARIS - The figures don't lie. An official report from the Bank of France on FDI for the account of 2019 revealed that Africa only accounted for 4% in the balance, in last position of 5 major investment zones. What to shake the quasi-dogmatic idea according to which the black continent represents the bulk of the economic interests of the hexagon.

Concretely, of the 1,360 billion euros invested during the year, only 54 were in Africa. The rest of FDI is distributed at 5% in South America, 8% in Asia, 17% in North America and 67% in Europe.

According to UNCTAD * figures dated 2018, one should rather look to the Netherlands to find the largest stocks of foreign direct investment in Africa. As for France, it would be more its foreign policy on the black continent which gives the impression of disproportionate financial interests.

* UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development