Le président français, Emmanuel Macron, à droite, et le président du Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, à l’Élysée, à Paris, en novembre.
Antoine Gyori/Corbis via Getty Images
L'approche de Macron à l'égard de la politique africaine s'inspire des stratégies des années 50 en raison notamment des similutudes avec la période qui a suivi la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore at the Elysee Palace, in Paris in November.
Antoine Gyori/Corbis via Getty Images
Macron’s approach to Africa policy emulates the 1950’s strategies. Why? A big part of the answer can be found in the fact that today’s global circumstances are similar to those of post-World War II.
Campaign ads for Ali Bongo in his successful 2009 bid to succeed his father as president of Gabon. The Bongo family has lead Gabon uninterrupted for over 50 years.
Reuters/Daniel Magnowski
Gabon’s strongman president, Ali Bongo, is barely clinging to power after contested elections, a stroke and a coup attempt. The Bongo family has run this stable central African nation for 52 years.
French President Emmanuel Macron with Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
EPA/Christophe Petit Tesson
Despite being led by different presidents over the past six decades, the French government’s policy on Africa has been faithful to its neo-colonial roots. Will Macron’s government be any different?
France’s relationships with its former African colonies has become ambivalent.
Reuters/Pascal Rossignol
French and African presidents have, in the past, entertained close relationships outside official channels. These often included illegitimate exchanges. But there are signs that this is changing.
Research Fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa and Assistant Professor in the History of International Relations, Utrecht University