In Focus | Africa, France
African officers prefer Beijing to Saint-Cyr
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China's "infiltration" of Africa's military high commands is less visible than the expansion of its activities in the construction industry but is no less real. It is causing great concern, moreover, to the French government, which is seeing one of its traditional channels of influence on the continent coming under increasing threat.
People only lend to the rich, according to a French proverb, which means that, when the head of a very powerful association of former students of France's Saint-Cyr military academy travels to Africa, the rumours start to circulate. This is what happened when General Bruno Dary made a private visit in March to Congo-B, where he advises Alexandre Vilgrain's SOMDIAA agri-food company. Dary, chairman of the Saint Cyrienne association was quickly portrayed by Brazzaville high society as an unofficial
