Emmanuel Macron's Trip to Central Africa: A Look Back on a Difficult Diplomatic Exercise
On February 27, 2023, Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech on French-African relations before traveling to Central Africa to meet with the leaders of four countries: Gabon, Angola, Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This briefing looks back at the key moments of his latest presidential trip and analyzes the limits of this diplomatic exercise.
Emmanuel Macron has visited 25 African countries since his first election in May 2017, making him one of the world leaders with the most diplomatic engagements with African nations.
- In his speech on France's new Africa policy, the French president emphasized a "renewed partnership" with African countries. He wants to move away from the "French backyard", a discourse that is not new.
- On the military front, he wants to reduce the number of French soldiers in Africa and focus on military cooperation and training initiatives, an ambition that seems difficult to achieve with reduced personnel.
- The announced objective of this tour was to improve France's image on the African continent, while other rival powers such as Russia, China, or Turkey are gradually imposing themselves. The results are mitigated, the trip was badly perceived by many African governments.
This publication is available in French : Le voyage d’Emmanuel Macron en Afrique centrale : retour sur un exercice diplomatique difficile
Author(s)
Alain ANTIL
Researcher and Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Center, Ifri
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Sub-Saharan Africa Center
Founded in 2007, Ifri's Sub-Saharan Africa center produces an in-depth analysis of the African continent and its security, geopolitical, political and socio-economic dynamics (in particular the phenomenon of urbanization). The Center aims to be both, through various publications and conferences, a space for disseminating analyzes intended for the media and the public but also a decision-making tool for political and economic actors with regard to the continent.
The center produces analyses for various organizations such as the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the French Development Agency (AFD) and even for various private supports. Its researchers are regularly interviewed by parliamentary committees.
The organization of events of various formats complements the production of analyzes by bringing the different spheres of the public space (academic, political, media, economic and civil society) to meet and exchange analytical tools and visions of the continent. The Sub-Saharan Africa Center regularly welcomes political leaders from different sub-Saharan African countries.
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