French military bases in Africa will now self-identify as schools

Emmanuel Macron wants to rebrand Paris’ presence in its former colonies as cultural and economic projects

French military bases in Africa will now self-identify as schools

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Macron: ‘New era’ in economic, military strategy in Africa

Monday’s speech came at a time when France’s influence on the continent is facing its biggest challenges in decades. Growing anti-French sentiment has led to street protests in several West and North African countries.

In addition, historical economic ties that France had with the region are under pressure from the growing commercial presence of Russia, China and Turkey.

Macron acknowledged that Africa now is a “field of competition” and urged French businesses to “wake up” and get involved in the fight.

In the past year, French troops had to withdraw from Mali, which turned instead to private Russian military contractors of the Wagner group, and most recently from Burkina Faso, which also appears to increasingly look towards Moscow.

When Will the Stars Shine Again in Burkina Faso?

When Will the Stars Shine Again in Burkina Faso?

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War is a plague! My country might disappear! I tell you, war is not a solution! War has no friends nor allies, and there are no real enemies. All people are suffering from this war: Burkina, Ivory Coast… everyone! War rages everywhere in Africa, especially in the North and in the Center of Mali. Hey African people, War is not a solution! War is not a good thing, my poor Malian people. If we are not able to make peace, the whole world will laugh at us. Ageloc, Timbuktu, Kidal War has never built anything; it destroys all that it finds. My country might disappear in a war and its betrayals! War is in Timbuktu, war is everywhere in Mali… Let’s avoid war because it has never built anything.

Oumou Sangaré – Kêlê Magni (Acoustic Version)