Analysts report that French President Emmanuel Macron Monday will deliver a speech from the presidential palace, two days ahead of his four-nation tour in Africa.
Experts add that the speech by Paris’s leader will focus on his nation’s new strategy to advance relations with the continent, while countering growing Chinese and Russian influence in the region.
France’s presidential office said Macron will visit Gabon, Angola, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo throughout his stay on the continent.
“The French head of state, who was re-elected last year, is set to unveil on Monday ‘his priorities and his method to deepen the partnership between France, Europe and the African continent,” read a statement released by Macron’s office.
A presidential adviser who spoke to news agency Agence France-Presse said it is pivotal for their president to counter the pro-Russia sentiments in Africa by boosting ties between Paris and the continent.
“Faced with strategic threats – the war in Ukraine as well as economic and pandemic shocks – it is crucial that Europe and Africa be as aligned and as close as possible in their dialogue,” said the adviser.
Macron’s address is a follow up to a speech he delivered in 2017 where he addressed university students in Burkina Faso and pledged to break away from policies linked to the colonial relationship between his nation and the continent.
Lassane Sawadogo, the head of a pro-junta movement in the West African nation spoke on Macron’s proposal after France’s military completely withdrew from Kamboincin base.
“I urge French people to understand that we don’t have problems with them, we don’t even hate President Emmanuel Macron,” said Sawadogo.
“But we do hate this system which has been imposed on us from the past, and which is perpetuating,” he added.
Some information in this report was sourced from Agence France-Presse.
