"In English-speaking Kenya, Macron will co-host a summit on Monday and Tuesday bringing together African leaders and business executives, as he seeks to cement his legacy one year before the end of his term. He will also travel to Egypt and Ethiopia as part of his Africa tour. "The Africa Forward summit marks a major milestone in relations between France and the African continent," the Elysee Palace said."
"The meeting will focus on economic development and cross-border investment, among other themes, the French presidency said, stressing that it will be the first such forum held in an English-speaking country. Macron hopes to highlight France's renewed relationship with the continent as a "report card on his Africa policy", said one diplomat."
"Anti-French sentiment runs high in some former African colonies as the continent becomes a renewed diplomatic battleground, with Russian and Chinese influence growing. Once master of vast expanses of northern, central and western Africa, France has played a crucial role in the continent's post-colonial history, repeatedly intervening militarily since the early 1960s."
"France has vowed to abandon the so-called "Francafrique" strategy, under which Paris sought to keep francophone Africa under its thumb through political collusion, exclusive access for French businesses and oblique financial deals including graft. 'Anglophone Africa' Macron has gone further than his predecessors in admitting France's colonial-era abuses in countries including Rwanda, Cameroon and Senegal. But he has ruled out any official apology for torture and other abuses carried out by French troops in Algeria."
President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Africa to renew France’s engagement after strained ties with former French-speaking colonies. In English-speaking Kenya, he will co-host an Africa Forward summit with African leaders and business executives, focusing on economic development and cross-border investment. The summit will be the first such forum held in an English-speaking country. Macron aims to present his Africa policy as a report card one year before the end of his term. The trip includes stops in Egypt and Ethiopia. France faces high anti-French sentiment in some former colonies as Russian and Chinese influence grows. France has pledged to abandon “Francafrique,” admitted colonial-era abuses, and adopted legislation to simplify the return of looted artworks.
#france-africa-relations #macron-diplomacy #economic-development #colonial-legacy #geopolitical-influence
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