In spite of the general trend towards decolonisation and 'politico-economic' independence in Africa, various aspects of collaboration, or collusion even, between African and West European countries are today flagrant still. French presence in Africa is a demonstrative case in point. In this paper, the formulation process of the EEC's Association Treaty (1957) will be taken up as a case study to look into the origin of the renewed French interest in Africa. Three factors are conducive, it is maintained, to French presence in Africa throughout the past decades in the sphere of African economic affairs.