France's missteps in Africa have pushed the Elysée to explore new ways of relating to the continent. The idea is to focus more on development cooperation than on the military field.

France needs partners to maintain its political and economic interests in Africa and is finding them in several countries in the south. But experts caution against evaluating this approach by France before evaluating the history that the French have had in the past.. The French diplomatic delegation, led by the Secretary of State responsible for Development, Francophonie and International Associations, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, visited Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia last November.