Protesters march against 'neo-colonial' France

France ceased to be a colonial power in 1962, with the exception of a few small overseas territories. But for some people it continues to behave like one. On the initiative of the Sortir du colonialisme (End Colonialism) collective, several hundred people took to the streets of Paris over the weekend to demand France turn the page.

We talk to the non-profit group Survie which fights French neo-colonialism in Africa. As a number of African states, including Chad, Djibouti and Congo-Brazzaville, head into elections, Survie is calling for France to pull back on its military cooperation with such countries.

We also hear from French members of BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions), an international movement that opposes what it sees as Israeli “colonisation” of Palestinian land in the West Bank.

As in Canada, the US and many European countries, the French branch of BDS is calling for a boycott of Israeli products. But a recent ruling by the Court of Cassation upheld the criminal convictions of 12 BDS activists on the grounds they had incited racial hatred.

France is the only country to have criminalised BDS supporters and activists claim it's an attack on free speech.