In Africa, the re-election of Emmanuel Macron raises expectations

Among the first to react to Emmanuel Macron’s re-election, Senegalese President Macky Sall congratulated him ” warmly for his victory, addressing his best wishes for success in the exercise of his second mandate “. Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum also hailed the “ brilliant re-election from his French counterpart. ” His experience of international issues in general and the Sahel in particular makes him a valuable partner for us in our fight against terrorism. “, he explained in a tweet.

Another Head of State, Gabonese President Ali Bongo, also applauded ” his brilliant re-election ” on Twitter. “ Together, we will continue to work to strengthen relations between Gabon and France. More than a common past, our two countries have a future to build. »

But in the country, not everyone is so enthusiastic and expectations are high. Marc Ona, a figure in Gabonese civil society and president of the citizen movement Tournons la page International, asks Emmanuel Macron to really break with Françafrique, and to really support the democracies on the continent.

“ France should now be able to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Africa, without getting involved in a French-African policy as has been the case, and this is what we have always denounced. . That the rhetoric which consists in saying that Françafrique is finished applies when it is a question of making respect this democracy in Africa. It is absolutely necessary that France today be behind the African clubs, which are fighting for the application of democratic rules which are universal rules, and no collision with dictatorships as is the case each time. Even Macron showed during his first term that he was not at odds with Françafrique. In Chad, it was Macron who came to dub the son of the dictator who gagged democracy. So, if he becomes aware of what is being done at the geopolitical level, I think he will have to change his modus operandi in Africa. »

In Côte d’Ivoire, Jean-Louis Billon, former Ivorian minister and executive secretary of the PDCI (the party of former President Henri Konan Bédié), expects Emmanuel Macron to have a clearer policy that is more dictated by the interests of the continent. “ I think that France should now have a much more readable African policy, much more expected. We want democracies, we want completely uninhibited relations, and not having a truth in one country and an untruth about the same situation in another country. The coup in Chad which is accepted, elsewhere in Africa not accepted, Constitutions flouted without France finding fault with it. Unlike the United States, which has a clear position today when it comes to Africa. I don’t think Emmanuel can do it, I think he has to do it, if he wants to maintain good relations with Africa and especially with future generations. »

In Togo too, we do not hide certain expectations, explains Robert Dussey, the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, who congratulates the French president in passing. “ We expect a lot more consultations, discussions with African leaders. A summit, for example, with France and the Africans. We would have liked that, contrary to what happened the last time, it was a meeting between the French president and the African presidents. Not just African civil society, because these are African leaders who carry the hope of their people, who are elected by their people. I believe that these are approaches that need to be reviewed in order to strengthen cooperation with the African continent. We had the Sahel area, the Togolese diplomacy of the President of the Republic is working a lot on the Sahel issue. There should be more consultation. This is what we want for President Macron’s next term. »