In 2013, China surpassed France in the franc zone as well, with a market share of 17.7 per cent compared to 17.2 per cent for France. In fact, France's commercial decline was particularly marked in the franc zone, especially in the Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Gabon. But this is not surprising given the relative protection enjoyed by France for a long time. Between 2005 and 2011, its market share also decreased by 18 per cent in the Ivory Coast, by 8 per cent in Gabon and by 6 per cent in Senegal. However, it is still a relative decline: the turnover of French companies, in fact, continues to increase in absolute terms. The portion of the cake decreases, but the size of the cake increases. Furthermore, France is still ahead of China in the Ivory Coast, with a market share of 14 per cent against 6 per cent for the Asian giant, in Senegal (17 per cent against 10 per cent) and in Gabon (33 per cent against 8 per cent).

Fanny Pigeaud_ Ndongo Samba Sylla, Africa's Last Colonial Curr…, loc. 258