Building a balanced partnership

France's defense white papers over the past few years have consistently ranked Africa as the second most strategically important region for France, after Europe. Therefore, maintaining good relations and protecting France's role in its relations with African nations has always been one of the top foreign policy priorities of President E. Macron's government .

With the aim of renewing relations with Africa and building a balanced partnership that benefits the continent, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourné undertook a trip to three countries: Kenya, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast. This was Foreign Minister Sejourné's first visit to Africa as head of French diplomacy , taking place against the backdrop of declining French influence on the continent.

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During his first stop in Kenya, Mr. Sejourné expressed France's desire to build a balanced partnership and work with the region to realize shared goals on climate, biodiversity, economy, and modern industry. He also reaffirmed France's commitment to neutrality, dialogue with all parties, and non-interference in the internal politics of other countries. The number of French companies operating in Kenya has nearly tripled, from 50 to 140 in a decade. However, bilateral trade remains unbalanced, and both sides are seeking ways to address this issue.

After Kenya, during his stop in Rwanda, Mr. Séjourné will attend the 30th anniversary commemoration of the 1994 genocide, which killed 800,000 people, mostly Tutsi ethnic minorities. In Ivory Coast, the two sides are expected to discuss a “transformative agenda,” including investment in major infrastructure projects and possibly the future of Port-Bouët, one of France’s five bases in Ivory Coast.

According to observers, the new commitments from the French government show that Paris is trying to persuade African countries to believe in a future of genuine, equal, and mutually beneficial cooperation, thereby dispelling the prejudices about the decades-long "French Africa" policy. This is a prerequisite for France to gradually restore its role and position on the African continent.

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