France’s evolving relationship with Africa is playing out in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille, where a striking number of Tunisian startups are finding support and using it as a springboard into broader African markets. 

L’Accélérateur M, a Marseille-based accelerator programme, has seen Tunisian startups and projects comprise approximately 90 per cent of its international cohorts in recent years, according to the accelerator. Several cohorts have consistently included Tunisian ventures, demonstrating a sustained commitment to this approach.

Tunisia’s geographical, cultural, and linguistic ties to sub-Saharan Africa make it a natural partner for French institutions seeking to maintain or expand their economic presence on the continent.

Programmes like La French Tech and initiatives such as L’Accélérateur M provide Tunisian startups with access to funding, mentorship, and networks within a more mature entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since 2019, L’Accélérateur M has supported over 100 projects, becoming a key hub for these cross-border collaborations. The “Soft Landing Africa Connect” programme explicitly focuses on facilitating access to African markets, with Tunisian startups consistently featuring prominently.

For Tunisian businesses, the benefits are clear. Collaboration with French institutions can open doors to funding, provide valuable validation, and facilitate access to international markets in both Africa and Europe. For instance, a Tunisian agritech company developing drone-based crop monitoring could partner with a French agricultural research institute, leveraging French connections to access markets in West Africa and secure funding that might be harder to obtain domestically.

However, critics argue that this strategy is not without risks. An overly close association with French interests could be perceived negatively in some African markets, potentially hindering the startups’ acceptance on the ground. If these businesses are seen as proxies for French influence, they may face resistance from local competitors and consumers wary of perceived neo-colonial economic dominance, some say. 

The Tunisian government, while generally supportive of initiatives that boost its tech sector and create jobs, also faces concerns about potential brain drain. The more developed European ecosystem could lure away talented Tunisian entrepreneurs permanently.