ABSTRACT
Africa–EU relations are not expected to be promising anytime soon when Africa has been continuously portrayed as a continent of mass exodus, looming at the gates of Europe to cross at the first opportunity. This chapter focuses on political transnationalism of France-based African migrants on board of metro trains in Europe in order to contest the European narrative on African migration, which these migrants deem to be misleading. The chapter argues that France-based African migrants create spaces of engagement on board of metro trains to zealously denounce French politicians for allegedly creating and supporting African authoritarian rulers to plunder natural resources in exchange for the confiscation of political power. Building on the notion of political transnationalism, this chapter draws lessons and experiences from some Francophone African countries from 1990 to 2019. Using content analysis and participant observation, this chapter reviews the quality of democracy in some Francophone African countries, before it assesses the perceived interference by France. It explores transnational practices devised by France-based African migrants to raise awareness on what they deem to be the true African migration narrative. France-based African migrants actively network and engage with each other and with Europe-based commuters on metro trains to raise transnational awareness and seek local solidarity on the African migration narrative. European countries should not undermine the political transnationalism of France-based African migrants, which may contribute to democracy promotion in Africa but could also be a recipe for Euroscepticism in Africa, the uprising of ordinary European citizens and the distortion of EU–Africa relations, if overlooked.
