Two days before the start of his tour of four Central African countries, the French president spoke on Monday of the outlines of the policy he intends to promote with the African continent.
A speech to set the tone for his African tour. Emmanuel Macron advocated “humility” And “the responsibility” of France’s action in Africa, Monday, February 27, in Paris, during a press conference on its new African policy. refusing the “competition” imposed according to him by those who settle with “their armies, their mercenaries”, the Elysée tenant called for a redefinition of military, diplomatic, economic and cultural relations between France and the African continent. The president must go, from Wednesday, to Gabon, Angola, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Here are his main statements.
He wants “balanced” relationships
“Many would like to encourage us to enter into a competition, which for my part I consider to be anachronistic”defended the head of state. “Some come with their armies and their mercenaries here and there”, he said, in a thinly veiled allusion to Russia and the private Wagner militia. However, according to Emmanuel Macron, Africa is neither a field of competition, nor a “square meadow”.
Calling out “comfort of the reading grids of the past”in which markets “return to us by right because we were there before”the French president pleaded for “a new balanced, reciprocal and responsible relationship” with the countries of the African continent. According to him, it is therefore necessary to move from a “logic” help with an investment logic.
He announces a “visible reduction” in the number of the army
On the military front, the President reported a “visible decrease” French military personnel in Africa “in the coming months”. This development will be accompanied by a “rise in power in [les bases militaires françaises] of our African partners” and a “increased effort by France in terms of training and equipment”.
France still deploys some 3,000 soldiers in the region, particularly in Niger and Chad, after having counted up to 5,500 men there. She intends to rearticulate her device and be less visible on the ground. For Emmanuel Macron, French influence should no longer be measured “among our military operations”.
He proposes a “framework law” to return works of art
Emmanuel Macron announced “a framework law” For “make new refunds” works of art “for the benefit of African countries that request it”. This law “will be proposed in the coming weeks by the Minister of Culture to our Parliament”. This subject had already been raised in mid-January by the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul-Malak, in an interview with World (paid item).
This framework law “will make it possible to set the methodology and the criteria for proceeding” to these refunds, “based on a cultural and scientific partnership to welcome and preserve these works”, continued the Head of State. He wishes “that this approach can be part of a broader dynamic and also a European dynamic”.