“
If Africa does not succeed, Europe will fail, nationalisms will triumph, migratory conflicts will multiply and the harrows will straighten up.
I do not want this political project
, ”Emmanuel Macron launched on Wednesday February 16 in Paris.
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“
The two continents are linked.
Even though people might doubt it, in France and in Europe, they will not be able to succeed if they do not help Africa to succeed.
Even if they don't like Africa, their interest, their selfish interest is that Africa succeeds
,” he pleaded while closing a conference of the AFD (French Development Agency).
The Head of State also called for a “
new alliance
” between Europe and Africa and “
a partnership of equals
”, on the eve of an EU/African Union summit in Brussels.
To "
renew our outlook
", he wanted AFD to change its name in the coming weeks because the words "
development aid,
“Solidarity investment”
During the summit on Africa in Montpellier in October, “
young Africans told me:
'
we don't want help and we don't need to be developed
'.
I understand
it”, he continued, believing that this could be perceived as an “
overhanging
” attitude or even arrogance and proposed to speak rather of
“solidarity investment
”.
“
AFD has launched a broad consultation process to reflect on the name.
I hope that in the coming weeks we will be able to complete this work
,” he concluded.
In addition, European financial and development institutions will mobilize 30 billion euros between 2021 and 2027 for sub-Saharan Africa, as part of a European investment project on the continent.
The objective is "
to provide financing on the scale of the challenges in Africa, with the entire family of public development banks and in Team Europe format
", according to the Director General of AFD Rémy Rioux.
While anti-French sentiment in Mali risks leading to a withdrawal of French troops, the Head of State made a point of summarizing his measures to appease relations between France and Africa.
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He cited the end of the CFA franc, the recognition of France's responsibility in the genocide in Rwanda or the restitution of works of art.
The challenge for Europe is also to maintain its place on an African continent where it now competes with the appetite of China and Russia.
