Editing Client state (section)

===France after decolonisation===
In the 20th century, France exercised a sphere of influence, or ''[[Françafrique]]'' over its [[French African colonies|former African colonies]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2013/08/201387113131914906.html |title=The French African Connection |access-date=September 27, 2018 |date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=Al Jazeera |archive-date=November 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112013750/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2013/08/201387113131914906.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/opinion/global/the-return-of-francafrique.html |title=The Return of Françafrique |access-date=September 27, 2018 |last=Haski |first=Pierre |date=July 21, 2013 |work=The New York Times |location=New York }}</ref> and to some degree former Belgian colonies in Africa (which were also French-speaking). The term is sometimes used pejoratively, to characterise the relationship with France as neocolonial. The former colonies provide oil and minerals important to the [[Economy of France|French economy]], and in some, French companies have commercial interests.