Chapter 282 Ambition?

"Mr. President, I'm sorry to bother you."

In Loti, the capital of the Republic of Colo, at the entrance of the Presidential Palace, a guard soldier inspected the vehicle in which Jaime Godot was riding, saluted and let him go, and said to him.

"What's your name? Soldier."

"President, I am Staff Sergeant Sani Diesel!"

Hearing the soldier's loud answer, Jamei Godot nodded and said:

"Sani, you did a great job and I should thank you for your due diligence."

After receiving praise from the president, Sani Disai saluted again, his body straight.

After getting off the car and returning to the presidential residence, he greeted his family and went to the study alone. He picked up the documents he brought back today and his eyes fell on one of the documents.

The name of that document is - "Analysis on the Feasibility of Exiting the West African CFA Franc Zone and Issuing a New Currency."

Of course, this document has not yet been discussed in the government, but came directly from the British-African Institute in London.

Thinking of this, Jaime Godot could not help but have the image of the young British Duke appear in his mind.

Although Jaime Godot has not personally met Duke Barron Cavendish who secretly controls Colo until now.

But information and information about him are not difficult to find, even in a small West African country like Kolo.

After all, the other party is a super rich man who is truly as wealthy as anyone in the country.

In the past few months, Jammeh Bongo has become the president of the entire country from a small leader of anti-government armed forces stationed in a corner of the grassland. The change in his identity is not small.

Even in the early days, when faced with the admiring gazes of the people, he would suddenly feel as if he was in a dream.

But the rational Jammeh understands where the power that brought him to this position comes from. That power can achieve his current position as president, and it can also destroy him.

Even if it is as powerful as the United States, if you look at the former Kennedy, you can understand the consequences of offending capital, let alone the so-called "president" of a small West African country like him?

Frankly speaking, after leading the negotiations to redistribute the interests of French mining companies in phosphate mines under his leadership, Jammeh also gained great popularity in the country.

Promoted by the West African Media Group, the media conglomerate of television, radio and newspapers taken over by the West African Group, it was seen as a huge victory for national sovereignty since Kolo's independence.

At such a moment, Jamei Bongo did not have more ideas, such as...obtaining power that matched his status at this time.

Is it even possible... to become a national hero like Mandela?

Of course, this was just a thought that occurred in a moment. After all, reason prevailed in the next second. He understood that Jiamei could not guarantee the loyalty of all the people around him, even the guards he just saw at the door. It still belongs to him, His Highness the Duke.

Therefore, it is more likely... No, it is almost absolute. As long as you are really ambitious and there is a slight mistake, then what awaits you is destruction.

After all, if you can support yourself to the position of president, you can also let others sit in this position, such as Thomas Kabore of the Colo Socialist Party.

Jammeh couldn't help but think of what Duke Barron Cavendish had said to him during several phone calls:

"Mr. Bongo, not only Kolo, but the whole of Africa is in chaos and poverty. Why is this? Is it because the products here are not fertile enough, or the people are not hardworking enough? Of course not, there are many reasons that have caused the current reality. "

"No matter how you view the presence of the West African Group in Kolo, Mr. Bongo, I hope you can think clearly. Do you want to look independent like South Africa, but lose the opportunity for development, or do you want the people's lives to be able to Get real improvements..."

"The reality is that with Kolo's situation, it is destined to be impossible to participate in the game of big powers. Being able to survive alone is already the best result... However, this is only a rare opportunity in Africa. If we cooperate with us, I can guarantee that the people of Kolo can get rid of the current poverty, children can study without worries, and adults can work hard and live a dignified life without hunger and despair..."

"And you, Mr. Bongo, will become the 'Father of Democracy' in Kolo and a national hero, as long as you don't try to destroy this fragile country with unrealistic 'ambitions.'"

Jamei Bongo once studied in England and is considered one of the Kolo citizens who “open their eyes to see the world”.

He also knows the history of many countries in the world. He is very envious of big countries such as the United States, Russia, and China. Because of their size, they have the opportunity to try and make mistakes. Even if they were once weak, they can still stand on the center stage again.

For a small country like Kolo, and located in Africa, their upper limit is only a slightly richer country.

For Kolo, this is already their dream.

You must know that the total GDP of the entire country of Colo in 2003 was only 980 billion West African CFA francs, equivalent to less than 1.5 billion euros, and the per capita GDP was less than 215 euros...

As the most prosperous capital of the country, Loti, the average monthly salary is about 15,000 West African CFA francs...well, it is equivalent to about 21.5 euros.

No wonder they are one of the least developed countries in the world.

It can be said that if they only rely on themselves, they will not be able to carry out any infrastructure construction...

After all, a country's total annual GDP is only 1.5 billion euros, and there is not much money that can be used for development and construction.

Just like Barron said to Jammeh, as long as the citizens can eat and solve their poverty, then Jammeh Bongo is enough to become Kolo's national hero!

Thinking of this, Jamei Bongo sighed and no longer had any thoughts of confronting the Duke.

The entire country's annual GDP is only 1.5 billion euros, and how much money does His Highness the Duke have?

In the recently released Forbes rich list, Barron Cavendish's assets are US$20 billion, exceeding 15 billion euros...

This is equivalent to the GDP of the entire country of Kolo for ten years...

Facing such a person, what courage would he have to fight against him?

At this time, Jamei Bongo's eyes fell on the documents in front of him again.

He opened the document and read it again.

The currency currently used by Kolo is not issued by themselves, but is called the West African CFA franc.

The full name of the West African CFA franc is "franc de la Communauté Financière Africaine" (franc de la Communauté Financière Africaine), which is an economic and monetary union of West African countries (including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Dominica). 8 countries) common currency.

The operation of the West African CFA franc mainly follows the following four principles:

First, it maintains a fixed exchange rate with the euro (the French franc before the birth of the euro) (1 euro = 695 West African CFA francs).

Second, it can be exchanged with euros without restrictions.

Third, in exchange for France’s guarantee for the West African CFA franc, countries in the West African CFA franc zone must hand over 65% of their foreign exchange reserves to the French treasury.

Fourth, capital within the West African CFA franc zone can circulate freely.

The West African CFA franc originated from the currency designed by France for its African colonies in 1945. After gaining independence, the countries in the West African CFA franc zone have been working hard for monetary sovereignty, but France has always had a strong influence on the West African CFA franc. The West African CFA franc has undergone major changes. All were completed under French leadership.

It needs to be admitted that using the West African CFA franc as the national currency also has its advantages, that is, the West African CFA franc maintains a fixed parity with the French currency (currently the euro), which greatly improves the stability and credibility of the West African CFA franc.

Just like the currency devaluation that will occur in most backward countries, it will not happen in the West African CFA franc zone...