President Emmanuel Macron says France remains committed to the people of the Sahel despite the absence of the military regimes of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the “Africa Forward” summit.
Macron defended Paris’s position regarding the Sahel Alliance countries led by the military during a joint press conference with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, in Nairobi on Sunday.
Responding to criticism of the absence of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the “Africa Forward” summit, Macron rejected any suggestion of excluding West Africa, noting the participation of several heads of state from the region, including those of Senegal and Ivory Coast as well as their counterparts from Central Africa, notably Gabon and the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to him, the transitional authorities of the three Sahelian countries have distanced themselves from regional frameworks, particularly Ecowas.
The French president clarified, however, that representatives of civil society, entrepreneurs, and artists from these countries would participate in the discussions.
“We are never at odds with the people,” Emmanuel Macron insisted, affirming that France continues to maintain ties with the populations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger despite tensions with the military regimes.
Addressing the withdrawal of French forces from the Sahel following successive coups in the region, the French head of state asserted that Paris had left these countries “without resentment,” while acknowledging that the current security situation demonstrates the limitations of the choice made by the Sahelian authorities.
He also defended the reorganization of the French military presence in Africa, now focused on partnerships with several states on the continent, notably Gabon, Benin, and Ghana.
Finally, Emmanuel Macron advocated a “pan-African” approach to relations between France and Africa, rejecting any suggestion of excluding Francophone Africa.
AC/Sf/fss/jn/APA