“Africa is not precarious”. This is what Emmanuel Macron assured during a speech at the Elysee Palace on Monday, February 27. The Head of State, who will begin a new tour of the continent on Wednesday March 1, visiting four countries (Gabon, Angola, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo), considered that France was “only at the middle of the ford”. “We are accountable for the past with a policy that has decided to change […] without us yet fully having the results “of this policy”, underlined the President of the Republic.
The speech delivered on Monday echoes that of Ouagadougou, in 2017, in which Emmanuel Macron had marked his desire to turn the page with the postcolonial African policy of Paris, Françafrique, marked by political collusion and sulphurous links, and strained the a hand to an African youth increasingly suspicious of France.
“A new balanced, reciprocal and responsible relationship”
Emmanuel Macron refused to see in Africa a field of “competition”, during his speech at the Elysée, rejecting “reading grids of the past”. Africa is not a “precarious” and we must move from a “logic” of aid to that of investment, estimated the French head of state. He pleaded for “a new balanced, reciprocal and responsible relationship” with the countries of the African continent.
He also said he showed “deep humility in the face of what is being played out on the African continent”, “a situation without precedent in history” with “a sum of dizzying challenges”. “From the climate security challenge to the demographic challenge with the young people who are arriving and to whom we must offer a future for each of the African States”, he listed, calling for “consolidating States and administrations, investing massively in the education, health, employment, training, energy transition”.
A “visible decrease” in French military personnel
The French president announced on Monday an upcoming “visible reduction” in French military personnel in Africa and a “new model of partnership” involving a “rise in power” of Africans.
“The transformation will begin in the coming months with a visible reduction in our workforce and an increase in power in these bases of our African partners”, declared the Head of State, promising “an increased effort by France in terms of training and equipment”. “We are closing a cycle marked by the centrality of the military and security issue,” he said.
A law governing “new restitutions” of works of art
The President of the Republic also announced “a framework law” to “carry out new restitutions” of works of art “for the benefit of African countries which request it”.
This law “will be proposed in the coming weeks by the Minister of Culture to our Parliament” and “will make it possible to set the methodology and the criteria for proceeding” with these restitutions, “based on a cultural and scientific partnership to welcome and preserve these works “, continued the French head of state. Emmanuel Macron said he wanted “this approach to be part of a broader dynamic and also a European dynamic”.
Macron will continue to “move forward” with Morocco and Algeria
Emmanuel Macron also said on Monday that he would continue to “move forward” to strengthen France’s relationship with Algeria and Morocco, beyond the current “controversies”.
“The period is not the best but that will not stop me”, he launched, pointing the finger at those who “try to highlight the adventures” and, concerning Algeria, “have an interest in what we do does not lead to reconciliation.