After colonial independence in Africa and Asia was widespread in the 1950s, some suzerainty States extended extensive aid to former colonies. The content of the assistance includes not only economic, but also political, cultural and military cooperation.
Economic aid is the main form of suzerainty’s aid, including direct economic aid, as well as financial aid in the form of loan and investment. Take France’s aid to former French colonies in Africa as an example. In 1997 and 1998, France provided $242 million and $20.6 million to Congo, accounting for 90 percent and 31.9 percent of Congo’s total foreign aid that year, respectively. French aid to Togo amounted to 14.9 billion CFA francs in 1998. Belgium’s financial assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) ranged from €22.8 million in 1999 to €44.4 million in 2002. In addition, the former suchmaster usually signed technical, military and cultural cooperation agreements with the former colonial countries, providing students with scholarships, sending technical experts, and providing military advisers and weapons to these countries.