Conference in Tunisia, France’s Macron accused Russia of having a “predatory” influence in Africa

President Emmanuel Macron charged Russia with promoting anti-French propaganda in Africa to further its “predatory” goals in unstable African countries, where France has recently seen military failures and a larger decline in influence.

Macron was asked to answer to critics who claim that France uses its historical economic and political links in its former colonies to further its interests while speaking on the margins of a meeting of French-language countries in Tunisia.

According to Macron, “This notion is reinforced by others; it’s a political endeavour.”

“I’m no fool; many influential people who occasionally talk on your programs are paid by Russians.
We are aware of them, he replied.

To increase their influence in Africa, several states are harming France, and its language, sowing doubts but more importantly pursuing specific objectives.

French forces were stationed in Mali for ten years as part of a counterterrorism mission. France, the former colonial power in most of western and central Africa, has historic military relations with Francophone Africa.

Critics call France’s effort a failure and accuse it of further destabilizing the area.

With the deployment of the private military contractor Wagner Group in several nations, notably the Central African Republic and Mali,

Following the military coup that took place in Mali in 2020 amid a deterioration in ties, Paris was forced to remove its soldiers from the nation.

Following that, the military chiefs severed connections with France and requested Wagner to participate in a decade-long campaign against Islamist insurgents.

Wagner is neither paid by or represents the Russian state, according to Russia.

Wagner, meanwhile, has been subject to sanctions by the EU after it was charged with conducting covert activities for the Russian government.

Russian military trainers and local forces in the Central African Republic, according to a United Nations investigation from last year, targeted people with excessive force, targeted deaths without provocation, the takeover of schools, and widespread looting.

The Kremlin has declared that it is untrue that Russian instructors took part in murders or robberies in the 4.7 million-person nation that is wealthy in gold and diamonds.

Macron referred to Russia’s actions as “predatory” on Sunday.

When France is ignored, the Russian project there is one of predation, as President Macron stated. “You just have to look at what’s going on in the Central African Republic or elsewhere to recognize that,” he added.

“A Russian military junta has participated in it,”

(Reuters)