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"Let's talk about Africa." That's what's on the menu Thursday when French President Emmanuel Macron addressed members of the African diaspora, accompanied by Ghana's leader, Nana Akufo-Addo. Macron is eager to strengthen Franco-African ties – and he called for frank discussion without taboos.
More than 300 people from the French African diaspora are expected Thursday at the Elysee for an interactive discussion with the French president.
Emmanuel Macron told them that they could challenge him on any subject, whether it was the French colonial past or the controversial CFA franc, perceived by many African elites as a tool of domination. No subject is out of bounds.
The format will be similar to that of the Great National Debate launched earlier this year after the Yellow Vest protests to reconcile the government with ordinary French men and women.
This time, Macron will seek to reconcile France and Africa and its point of contact is the diaspora.
French nationals of African origin or citizens with dual nationality would be about 3 million in France, according to observers (according to the egalitarian ethos of France, there is no official data on the origins ethnic).
"The diaspora, with its dual culture and its networks, can help France to get back in Africa," said Antoine Glaser, specialist in African affairs and author of the book Arrogant like a Frenchman in Africa.
The presence of the former colonial power on the African continent has declined considerably – France is now the seventh largest trading partner of Africa, far behind China and Germany.
"Today, there are about 125,000 French people, mainly in Senegal, nothing compared to three million French people of African descent or dual French nationality, whose voice counts," Glaser told RFI. .
Macron hopes to use the voice of the diaspora to talk to Africa. It may have to go through some minefields first, starting with France's support for the autocratic leaders of Cameroon and Chad.
Breaking with Françafrique
In the case of Ndjamena, Paris intervened militarily to prevent Chadian rebels from overthrowing longtime President Idriss Deby in March. Critics felt that this measure was reminiscent of a bygone era and evidence that the dark networks of "Françafrique" – where French leaders had supported controversial African presidents as long as they served French interests – were indeed intact. .
"To break with Françafrique, the government is promoting a vision called Africa-France," says Glaser.
Macron chose an influential ally to help it, namely the Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is well respected on the African continent and has a background that is inferior to that of Cameroonian Paul Biya or Chadian Idriss Deby.
"It is not surprising that he has chosen President Akufo-Addo to address the diaspora in France," says Glaser.
"Addo is a pan-Africanist.He won admiration in 2017 by rejecting Macron's offer of badistance, saying that Ghana did not need help," he said. he told RFI.
In addition, the Ghanaian president said that 2019 would be "the year of return", in which people of African descent would make the return trip. Addo's speech on the empowerment of blacks seduces Macron.
Both believe that the diaspora is the key to Africa's future development and empowerment.
Hit the glbad ceiling
This is however a big demand of the black population of France. They continue to reach the glbad ceiling when it comes to getting the best jobs in France, and yet, they are asked to play the role of bridge for the return of France. in Africa.
"The strategy of Emmanuel Macron is twofold.It invites these French of African descent to the Elysee Palace to show the public that they are French like everyone else.The hic, c & # 39; is that he wants them to help reinvigorate the Franco-African ties, in return. "
The French president has already begun to do so thanks to tools such as the Presidential Council for Africa (CPA), set up shortly after his election and composed almost entirely of ethnic minorities.
The message is clear – France wants to go beyond seeing Africa through a prism of immigration but as a future, as Macron described in his keynote address in Burkina Faso in 2017.
Critics such as Glaser argue that he may be worried about his future.
"The French African diasporas are an untapped voting base for Macron, representing perhaps only 2 to 3 percent of voters, but could be enough to tip the 2022 elections in its favor," he said.
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