Beyond military issues on their continent, young Africans are right to be frustrated at the way France has recently raised the registration fees for foreign students or how differently the Hexagon has welcomed Ukrainian refugees compared to their compatriots’ fleeing wars and life-threatening situations. It is therefore in a climate of growing mistrust that Emmanuel Macron began his 18th trip to Africa since his first election.
Africa is calling for an equal partnership of mutual
respect. A partnership of mutual benefit where both partners are satisfied with
the outcomes and benefits of their relationship. While President Macron has
detailed the renewal of his military strategy, beginning a new, more modest era
for French troops in Africa, he paid relatively little attention to the
economic, cultural, social, health and ecological aspects. These are areas that
France and Africa must write, and perhaps re-write together.
To truly achieve this new partnership of equals, France must
above all base this renewed relationship on trade and investment that are more
efficient, more transparent and more in line with African priorities. For these
priorities to be fully heard, Paris must above all continue to support Africa’s
access to the negotiating table on the international scene, starting with the
integration of the African Union into the G20, in the same way as the European
Union.
To truly speak on an equal footing, France must also demand
for greater transparency in the methodologies applied by the rating agencies to
the debts of African countries, in order to put an end to the double standard
in force on the perception of risks that put developing countries at a major
disadvantage.
Rebalancing the distribution of available resources to deal
with the climate, health and economic crises that know no borders, Emmanuel
Macron must also support the inevitable reforms of the multilateral development
banks, which could lend up to 1,000 billion dollars additional resources to
low- and middle-income countries.
And to remain a credible interlocutor on an increasingly
competitive international scene, France must begin by finally achieving the
historic commitment of allocating 0.7% of its gross national income to
development aid, which will be added to domestic resources and other
development finance needed to support essential social sectors such as
education or health.
Africa has solutions to the world’s climate needs through
its green minerals. However, we must ensure that value is added to the minerals
before they are exported out of Africa, for the people in Africa to also
benefit from the product of its own soil.
In the end, Africa has always wanted to be considered as a
true partner on the economic level as well as on that of the principles and
values it defends. The time lost by France in turning a deaf ear can now only
be made up for by a radical change of method. Africa does not expect France to
solve all its problems for it. But Africa expects France to keep its
commitments and to promote more equitable rules of the game of globalization so
that Africa and France benefits.
Authored by ONE in Africa Executive Director Serah Makka & ONE in France Director Najat Vallaud-Belkacem