"MACRON, GO AWAY!"

French President Emmanuel Macron's tour of Central Africa, including visits to Gabon, Angola, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was clearly intended as confirmation of Paris' continued dominance of the Black Continent. But on the contrary, Macron's visits to the continent have further exposed the neo-colonial nature of the French policy, increasingly alienating peoples who had long been under the imperial heel or influence of the Gallic Rooster.

"Balanced partnership"

Before his departure to Africa, Macron presented France's new course at the Elysée Palace. In essence, France is going to replace its security policy with strengthening its business potential in Africa.

During the tour, the French president confirmed that it was a question of reducing Paris' direct military presence and relying on "soft power". Apparently, Macron decided to move towards the joint management of French military bases with African governments by reducing the number of French troops in certain African countries on the one hand and to concentrate on the implementation of concrete cooperation projects in the sectors of economy, culture and education on the other. France is going to allocate 40 million euros for this purpose.

Macron's pragmatic approach was manifested in the choice of countries as destinations along his African tour: energy-rich Gabon and Angola, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has more than 60% of the world's cobalt reserves. During his visits to these countries, Macron announced the end of the era of Franceafrique. He characterised it as a tutelage of Paris over its former colonies on the continent. But it is now a thing of the past, giving way to a "balanced partnership".

"I am here to build a balanced partnership for climate and diversity, economy and industry, to protect our interests and work for the common good," Macron said. But what prompted such a significant turn in France's approach to its former colonies?

The main reason is the rise of anti-French sentiment across Africa. Protests against the influence of Paris have increased significantly after the de facto failure of the French military Operation Barkhane in the Sahel region of Africa. The operation targeted terrorist groups, but was so unsuccessful and damaging to the image of Paris that French troops had to withdraw from the region. They left Mali and Burkina Faso. But France's military fiasco was not the only problem. Its traditionally strong African cultural influence has also waned: in Mali, the status of the French language, formerly the official language of the country, has been downgraded to that of a working language.

Another important factor is France's surrender of its hegemonic position in competition with other major players on the African continent. Obviously, China, Russia, India, Türkiye, Israel and Saudi Arabia are playing a growing role in Africa's military, political and economic life. This is especially true of the first two, which are effectively pushing France into the position of third external centre in terms of the strength of their influence on African geopolitics.

Thus, Russia has been receiving significant military and political dividends on the continent also thanks to the presence of the Wagner PMCs in a number of African countries. For example, Mali and Burkina Faso have already openly declared their reliance on military support from Moscow. Another major global player, China, is establishing itself as a key economic partner and investor in many African countries, including the former French colonies.

Therefore, France seeks further ways of preserving its influence on the Black Continent. But with its balanced partnership plan, Paris has not, by and large, abandoned the essence of its African doctrine, which is nothing but neo-colonialism.

Heading for failure

According to President Macron, his New Deal means that "France is not going to solve all of Africa's problems".  Then what exactly are the "problems" of Africa that France intends to solve?

Apparently, by reducing aid to African states, including military aid, Macron intends to provide selective economical, political and environmental support to the most pro-French ones. France still considers itself a bastion of global democracy and continuous to eagerly patronise the most odious African democracies, just as it has done throughout the post-colonial era.

Remarkably, France refuses to accept any moral responsibility for the tragic past and very problematic present of the African peoples. Ranting on the subject, Macron said: "There is an idea that France is guilty for everything. Some say that something is our fault. No, it's not our fault."

One notable episode from Macron's Central African tour took place at a joint press conference with Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter reminded Macron of France's involvement in the genocide during the 1994 Rwandan civil war, which very badly affected the situation in the DRC due to its economic and humanitarian consequences. But Macron bluntly rejected this responsibility: "France does not have to do you any favours, it's up to you", he said.

By exempting itself from any obligation to the African peoples, France also precludes any financial compensation for the suffering of African nations during the colonial and post-colonial periods. However, France's refusal to pay compensation for the huge damage it has caused is directly proportional to its desire to continue making huge profits from its "participation" in the economic life of African countries and the exploitation of their natural wealth.

In fact, Macron himself has very transparently admitted this: "The reorganisation of our African policy does not mean we are leaving the continent. We are staying, but we will try to make our footprint on the continent less visible."

Apparently, it is the form of France's "African policy" that is going to change, albeit partially. For all the preceding post-colonial period, since the presidency of the founder of the Fifth Republic, Charles de Gaulle, this policy has been based on economic subsidies to former French colonies. Paris was supporting even the most corrupt and anti-democratic local governments, receiving massive preferences from them in return. These benefits included the donation of capital and African natural resources to French industry. At the same time, this ensured France's military presence on the continent. And now by reducing or limiting its military presence, France is not only unwilling to help its former colonies gain true sovereignty, but is trying to enslave them with a new bondage network using soft power using the latest information and political technologies. All these intricate moves presented under the guise of a "balanced partnership" are accompanied by the continuation of essentially criminal practices, particularly in maintaining the economic influence of France.

Take the situation in Niger, one of Africa's poorest countries, which has nevertheless been "fortunate" to have the richest uranium reserves. Reacting to Macron's criticism against Rome's migration policy, the incumbent Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described (even before having being elected) France's "humane" policy in Niger vividly as follows: "Disgusting is France that continues to exploit Africa by printing money to 14 African countries, charging them mint fees, and by children labour in the mines and by extracting raw material, as is happening in Niger. Where Frances extracts 30 percent of the uranium it needs to run its nuclear reactors, while 90 percent of Niger's population lives without electricity. Do not come to teach us lessons, Macron, the Africans are abandoning their continent because of you. The solution is not to transfer Africans to Europe, but liberate Africa from some Europeans."

It is also worth mentioning the statement of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made at the recent summit of the Contact Group of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku, which debunks French neo-colonialism: "Territories ruled by France outside Europe are disgusting remnants of the French colonial empire." At the same time, he called on France "to apologise and accept responsibility for its colonial past and bloody colonial crimes and acts of genocide against NAM member countries in Africa, South-East Asia and other regions."

Given all these manifestations of "elegant" French politics, which is trying to change, to adapt to modern realities, but far from losing its neo-colonial content, many greeted the French president during his visits to African countries with the words "Macron, go away!", which is not surprising. Africans no longer seem to have any illusions about the "good intentions" of Paris. The question is whether the African states can really become self-sufficient, to strengthen their independence in order to put an end to the bondage of modern colonialism, the ugliest forms of which "humane" and "democratic" France continues to practise.