At the Africa Forward summit, which opens this Monday, May 11, in Nairobi, Emmanuel Macron is once again championing the idea of a "reinvented partnership" between France and the African continent. In an interview with Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report, the French president reflects on his career, his vision for Franco-African relations, and the challenges ahead.

Macron recalls his first encounter with Africa, during an internship in Nigeria in the early 2000s, where he says he was "fascinated by the energy" of the country. Refusing to reduce the continent to linguistic blocs, he emphasizes its demographic and economic potential: "70% of the population is under 30 years old and growth was higher than that of Southeast Asia last year."

Regarding development financing, he rejects the notion of "aid" in favor of "solidarity-based and sustainable investment," advocating for a reform of the international financial architecture and better mobilization of private capital. On youth, he emphasizes the urgent need to create jobs and strengthen public services, while acknowledging that security crises often divert budgets from education and health.

When questioned about France's historical responsibility, Macron recalled having "strongly condemned colonization" as early as 2017, but refused to make it the sole explanation for current difficulties. "African leaders have a duty to improve governance in their countries."

Faced with global rivalries over critical minerals, he asserts that "Europeans are not the predators of this century," unlike China, which he accuses of a "predatory" logic. He advocates a strategy of shared autonomy between Europe and Africa, based on transparency and respect.

On the security front, Macron called for strengthening the African Union's role in crisis management, while acknowledging the withdrawal of French troops from areas where their presence was no longer desired. Regarding the Sahel, he expressed his hope for "normal governance" and the release of President Mohamed Bazoum, who is being held in Niger.

Finally, he addresses the migratory tensions in France, which he links to deindustrialization and unemployment, and the relationship with Algeria, which he hopes to ease despite recent tensions. He also cites symbolic advances, such as the restitution of looted cultural property and the creation of the Maison des Mondes Africains (House of African Worlds) in Paris.

  

"We have managed to reinvent our relationships, to get rid of the trappings of the past and are now looking towards the future," concludes Emmanuel Macron.