Macron To Outline Africa Policy Before Four-nation Trip

French President Emmanuel Macron will present Monday France’s new strategy for Africa. There are anti-French sentiments in some former colonies.

He spoke at the presidential palace two days before a four-nation visit to central African countries. Paris is trying to counter the growing influence of Russia and China in the region.

Macron is scheduled to visit Gabon as part of an environment summit. Angola will then follow or Congo-Brazzaville and the next neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Obama has made it clear that Africa is his priority during his second term. In July, he traveled to Benin, Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau.

The French head-of-state, who was reelected last year, will reveal Monday “his priorities” and his methods to deepen the partnership with France, Europe, Africa, according to the presidential offices.

He spoke to Burkina Faso students in 2017 and pledged to end his country’s postcolonial policies in the continent that has more than 50 nations.

He was critical of “the crimes committed by European colonization” (and called for a “truly different relationship” between Africa-Europe.

Since then, however, there have been many changes in Burkina Faso as well as the larger Sahel region.

France has fallen out in Mali and Burkina Faso with new military authorities. It has pulled its troops from the former French colonies, having helped them fight jihadists for years.

Paris is now roiled by Russia’s increasing influence in French-speaking African nations, as well as a Chinese push to exert more control than has been obvious for years.

France and its Western allies have accused the Russian mercenary group Wagner of being active in Mali, the Central African Republic, and other countries ruled by France during the colonial period.

There are reports that Wagner might be trying to infiltrate Burkina Faso. Moscow has denied these claims.

Paris has accused Russia in recent months of spreading disinformation to undermine French interests and former colonies.

Macron was expected to speak more about the future French military presence in Africa. This is after the announcement in autumn of the end of its Barkhane antijihadist operation within the Sahel.

France has thousands of troops still in the region, including in Niger, Chad and Chad. However, it is looking to redeploy some towards Gulf of Guinea and reduce its presence on ground.

French President was also to stress the importance of strengthening ties following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine one year ago.

“Faced to strategic threats — war in Ukraine, as well as economic or pandemic shocks – it is crucial that Europe & Africa be as aligned as possible in their dialog,” a French presidential advisor told AFP. He did not want to be named.

Macron repeatedly called on the countries of the global South to condemn the war against Ukraine.

However, the United Nations voted on Thursday to require Russia to immediately withdraw its troops and forces from its pro-Western neighbor. This was why three of the four countries Macron visited this week — Gabon and Angola — abstained along with India and China.

Macron will travel to Gabon (a former French colony) on Wednesday to participate in the One Forest Summit for the preservation of forests along the vast Congo River Basin.

In an effort to strengthen French ties to English- and Portuguese-speaking areas of Africa, he will travel to Angola, the former Portuguese colony.

On Friday and Saturday, he will leave Congo-Brazzaville, another ex-colonial French colony.