DAKAR, Senegal
French President Emmanuel
Macron's Africa visits have been unsuccessful, according to African experts and
civil society.
Last week, Macron visited
Gabon, Angola, the Congo Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to
renew relations between France and Africa.
Macron in Gabon announced
"the end of Francafrique," stressing that Paris is a "neutral
interlocutor whose role is not to interfere in domestic politics."
"Francafrique" is an
expression with negative connotations, referring to France's influence in its
former African colonies and its relations with them.
Activist Cheikh Fall told
Anadolu that Macron continues looking down on Africa, and added: "If
Macron made that 'Francafrique is over' statement at the end of the visit,
after meeting the African leaders, it could have a meaning. In terms of style
and content, the statement is full of contempt and is paternalist."
Fall, who is founder of the
civil movement AfricTivistes, said that African calls for total independence
forced Macron to take up this visit.
Abdennour Toumi, a researcher
at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM, Türkiye), opined that Macron
still sees Africa as France's "backyard."
Toumi considered Macron's
latest visit as a "total failure," and added: "Paris must revise
its Africa policy since the anti-France sentiment is very intense on the
continent. Today, African youth are not depending on France anymore, they have
other options."
Toumi also said that western
and central Africa, as well as the Sahel region, do not want French
interference and expect to be respected.
"Paris is panicking in
the face of its gradually deteriorated image in the continent," the
researcher continued. "This visit was organized with panic, that's why it
has been very unsuccessful."
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