The Ivorian mirage.

Côte d'Ivoire contributes nearly 40% of the GDP of UMEAO (West African Economic and Monetary Union), and yet some persist in comparing us to our neighbors, who, it is said, envy us—which, incidentally, is rather flattering of them.

But one does not measure oneself against the bottom of the class, especially when we remember that three decades ago, we were on the same level as South Korea.

Can South Africa, a member of BRICS, seriously compare itself to Eswatini or Lesotho in terms of development?

"With great power comes great responsibility."

Coffee and cocoa account for more than half of our export earnings, and yet, after accumulating some $90 billion in debt, not a single truly meaningful processing plant has been established.

The president knows perfectly well what ought to be done. But he cannot—or will not—do it. Should we come to his rescue?

During a rally, he let slip: "I am tired; allow me to go and rest and spend time with my grandchildren..."

This was not a call to his supporters, but a cry from the heart addressed to those who pull the strings: "I cannot go on, because I speak of development to a people for whom it remains out of reach, in a system where I must follow a roadmap that is not my own."

Proof of this: while his supporters were begging him to stay in power, he went to consult his handlers in France about the possibility of a fourth term.

They replied: "Of course, you must stay. Who else but you can maintain the illusion of the 'Ivorian miracle' and protect our interests, especially with the threats posed by your neighbors in the North? The numbers attest to the good work you are doing. And in the face of protests, you have the green light to suppress them—we will support you."

The carrot and stick policy is about stretching over twenty years what could have been achieved in five.

A strategy carefully maintained by international institutions, which fund countless projects with no real impact on Africa's development.

The DRC, which holds over 60% of the world's cobalt reserves and significant quantities of coltan and lithium, will receive no investment to manufacture mobile phones, electric vehicles, or solar panels.

So how can we, for our part, hope to produce chocolate instead of exporting our raw cocoa?

France, a world leader in nuclear energy, still does not authorize us to resort to it.

Our underdevelopment is planned and maintained. From time to time, they throw us a carrot—roads, bridges, schools—but as soon as we ask for more, the stick is used to bring us back into line.

"Ungrateful wretches! Are you not better off than your neighbors? Our partnership is win-win: we are the colonizer, you are the colonized. This must continue, for your own good. Otherwise, your country will sink into chaos. We will not let ourselves be driven out… we love our dear Côte d'Ivoire too much. O my tender one, I will adorn you with new bridges, new roads—but the chocolate will remain made in Switzerland, and the price of your cocoa, set by us. For we love you so. Don't think too hard about finding innovative solutions for your development, it would be too tedious for you, my beauty. We have already done that work; here is your new roadmap.

You will feel our affection if you do not follow it."

Yusuf Monhaté