Explain France's connection to North Africa?

Question

I know about colonialism and imperialism but apparently the French connection to North Africa goes back to even before that. Why? is France that close to North Africa?

Answer 1

It's in 1830 that France invaded Algeria and then began the colonial era. For more than a hundred years France tried to "incorporate" Algeria to France essentially because of its natural resources that were lacking in France. In 1881 France controlled also Tunisia but in a different political way ...it was a "Protectorat" meaning that it was not considered as French but under total economical control ! In 1912 Morocco also became a Protectorat but this time shared with Spain. Lybia was also under shared military control of France and England at the end of WW2> Mauritania and west Sahara were also under shared control by France and Spain.

All 5 States got their independence back between 1951 and 1962. 1951 for Lybia, 1956 for Morocco and Tunisia, Mauritania in 1960 and finally Algeria in 1962 after an eight year conflict with France that cost more than a million casualties !

Answer 2

Yes, France is that close to North Africa. it is separated only by the Mediterranean Sea.

Remember that for most of history, North Africa and all the countries of what is called the Mediterranean littoral were closely connected.

Ancient Greek settlements extended into Africa. The empire of Alexander the Great extended to the borders of Libya. Carthage, itself founded by Phoenicians,  warred with Rome and eventually was conquered an absorbed. The Byzantines, successors to Rome, ruled all of North Africa to the pillars of Hercules.

So it was quite natural that France, itself a successor to the ancient Roman province of Gaul, should look across the waters of the Mediterranean to North Africa.