Political experts report that France’s president Emmanuel Macron embarked on a four-nation tour of the continent where he will express “profound humility” as a part of Paris’s new strategy to strengthen relations in Africa while countering Russia’s growing influence.
Mahamoudou Savadogo, a security expert with Granada Consulting in Burkina Faso, one of several African nations that have ailing relations with France, said Macron must focus on winning the hearts of the youth on the continent who have no recollection of his nation’s colonial past.
“For a long time, France has been the object of criticism and rejection because its position has always been dominance,” said Savadogo.
“There is a new opportunity to be had—there are youth who have never known colonization and there’s a new paradigm that France must consider in order to improve their relationship with other states,” he added.
Aguibou Bouare, the president of the National Human Rights Commission of Mali said Russia is gaining influence in the West African nation because of ailing relations between Bamako and Paris.
Bouare also noted the presence of Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group in his nation.
“For me, a country does not have friends – it has interests,” said Boure, adding “any partner that can help us fight terrorism is encouraged. I’m not concerned about who that partner is.”
Ahmat Yacoub Dabio, the president of the Center for Development and Prevention of Extremism in Chad, echoed Boure’s sentiments.
“Wagner’s arrival in Francophone Africa is the result of France’s failed Africa policies,” said Dabio.
“France has always supported African dictatorships. It has always turned a blind eye to human rights violations. And France hasn’t made the effort to radically change its policies,” he added.
A French presidential adviser who spoke to news agency Agence France-Presse said Macron’s trip should focus on repairing relations with Africa.
“Faced with strategic threats – the war in Ukraine as well as economic and pandemic shocks – it is crucial that Europe and Africa be as aligned and as close as possible in their dialogue,” said the adviser.
Some information in this report was sourced from Agence France-Presse.
