NIAS AFRICA WEEKLY

NIAS AFRICA WEEKLY
IN FOCUS | Macron's visit to Africa

NIAS Africa Team
9 August 2022
Photo Source: AFP

Africa Weekly #24, Vol. 1, No. 24
9 August 2022

 

IN FOCUS
Macron’s visit to Africa: Four takeaways
Through his West Africa tour, Macron has put forward plans to renew and strengthen France-Africa relations. However, Africa’s skeptical responses raise the question of whether France’s efforts are unfitting and insufficient.
Anu Maria Joseph

On 28 July, France’s President Emmanuel Macron concluded his three-day long, first three-country tour in Africa since his re-election in April. The visit began in Cameroon, continued in Benin, and concluded in Guinea Bissau. The visit agenda was profuse: promoting food security, renovating military partnership, educational and cultural development and human rights. The trip to the three countries with the least international attention comes as Macron seeks for new France-Africa relations that are not linked to colonial narratives. However, efforts are perceived in terms of Macron’s objective to hold on to its influence in the region where new actors like Russia, China and Turkey are gaining momentum.
Macron’s visit to Africa: Four Takeaways

First, Macron's three nations visit. In Cameroon, the country disrupted by jihadist militancy, ethnic violence and Anglophone separatism, Macron met President Paul Biya who has been ruling the country for almost 40 years with an iron fist. Macron pledged to help African countries increase food production as grain supplies are disturbed due to the Russia-Ukraine war. He said: “France will assist African countries to face the shocks caused by the war by encouraging local investments in agriculture to increase food production.” Macron also promised to continue its efforts in fighting Boko Haram and assured military assistance if requested. Macron’s pledges were welcomed well by Biya. He said: “France has agreed to assist not only Cameroon but the entire African continent to fight against security threats and I am happy about that.” Further, speaking in the capital Yaounde, Macron said that he wanted historians from both countries to investigate the past and establish “responsibilities”. Before 1960, French colonial atrocities had killed tens of thousands of Cameroon nationalists.

In Benin, Macron met President Patrice Talon in Cotonou, and pledged to support the country in countering terrorism. Benin has been facing escalated threats from al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked armed groups. Macron said: “France promises support in air, intelligence and equipment as well as training for the defense and security forces of Benin.” He also announced French readiness to provide intelligence, deliver vehicles and drones, demining equipment, bulletproof vests and night vision equipment.
In Guinea Bissau, which experienced a political crisis after an attempted coup in February, Macron met the President and chair of the Economic Community of West African States, Sissoco Embalo. They discussed bilateral relations, the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea which went through a series of coups. Macron said: “We spoke at length about the risk of destabilization that the situation in the Sahel poses to the entire West African region. And I reiterated France’s determination, first of all, to remain committed to the Sahel and the region.” In response, Embalo said: “I believe that cooperation is already good, but now it will strengthen even more in all areas and especially in the security field.”

Second, African stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. Macron’s three-day tour coincided with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s trip to Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Republic of Congo. Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, most African countries maintained a position of neutrality, a major concern for France. Throughout the visit, Macron focused several remarks on Africa’s stance on Russia. He said: “Here in Africa, a continent that has suffered from colonial imperialism:Russia is one of the last colonial imperial powers”. He also accused Russia of using food and energy as “weapons of war.” However, Macron’s focus on the issue went counterproductive. Tighisti Amare, deputy director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House shared: “Macron’s comments are a reflection of this growing concern and an attempt to win Africa’s support for France’s position on the war in Ukraine.”

Third, restructuring France-Africa relations. Signaling France’s “political priority” in its relations with the African continent, a French presidential official said: “The tour will show the commitment of the President in the process of renewing the relationship with the African continent”. In 2020, the political relations with Cameroon strained after Macron’s comment that he will put "maximum pressure on Paul Biya” to end human rights violations in the country.  Through the visit, Macron seeks to revive its dwindled economic and political ties with Cameroon.

In March 2019, during a visit, France developed new relations with East African countries Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia. The Montopellier summit in October 2021 was unique, representing young Africans and civil societies without the involvement of African leaders. With the involvement of new non-francophone countries and new actors, Macron aims to change France-Africa relations. Through speeches, restitutions and apologies on colonial atrocities, restoration of artifacts, visits and summits Macron expects to overcome the colonial Francafrique narrative. However, a large section of the African population receives French efforts with skepticism. They accuse Macron of rebranding the traditional Francafrique to a new form.

Four, France’s security role in the Sahel. France’s shift in its security commitments in the Sahel is expected to act more in a supportive role for local forces than taking the lead. Though the complete pullout from Mali was perceived as abandonment by the African population, speaking at Yaounde, Macron promised France “will not relinquish the security of the African continent,” as jihadist militancy is spreading across the Sahel. He also spoke about the French revived security mission beyond the Sahel, to the second layer of West African countries. However, the new actions raise a narrative by critics saying Macron is expanding his influence in the continent under the guise of security.


AFRICA IN BRIEF
2 August – 9 August
By Apoorva Sudhakar

ETHIOPIA
US, EU envoys call for restoration of amenities
On 2 August, the US and EU envoys to Ethiopia traveled to Tigray for the first time since the conflict in Tigray broke out in November 2020. A joint statement by the Embassy of the US in Ethiopia and the Delegation of the EU to Ethiopia said political dialogue between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was necessary to achieve long-lasting peace. The envoys called for the “swift restoration of electricity, telecom, banking, other basic services and unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray and the Afar and Amhara neighboring regions affected by the conflict.”  (“EU, US envoys urge Ethiopia to restore services in Tigray,” Al Jazeera, 2 August 2022)

SOUTH SUDAN
Unity government leaders extend transitional period
On 4 August, President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar signed a deal to extend the transitional period to 2024. This move was criticised by foreign observers as the deal signed by the unity government formed in February 2020 provided for general elections to be held in February 2023. The minister for cabinet affairs said the decision aimed “to address the challenges that impede the implementation of the peace agreement.” The US, UK and Norway boycotted the decision expressing “profound concern that fully inclusive consultations must take place with civil society, faith-based groups, business, women's groups, youth representatives, eminent persons and international partners before the (peace deal) is amended.” (“South Sudan extends transitional government by two years,” News24, 4 August 2022)

SOMALIA
Former al Shabaab official to be religion minister
On 2 August, the prime minister announced that Muktar Robow, a former al Shabaab spokesperson and deputy leader, had been appointed as minister of religion in the new cabinet. Robow split from the terrorist group in 2013; he was under house arrest since 2019. (“Somalia names former al-Shabab spokesperson as religion minister,” Al Jazeera, 2 august 2022)

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
MONUSCO spokesperson expelled over remarks
On 3 August, the foreign ministry released a statement expelling the spokesperson on the MONUSCO claiming that the UN official had stoked tensions leading to the week-long protests. The government accused the spokesperson of making “indelicate and inappropriate” statements and therefore maintained that the UN official’s presence will not “promote a climate of mutual trust and calm between Congolese institutions and MONUSCO.” (“DR Congo expels UN peacekeeping mission spokesman after protests,” Al Jazeera, 3 August 2022)

CHAD
Military government, rebel groups sign peace deal
On 8 August, the military government signed a peace deal with over 40 rebel groups during the negotiations in Doha.  The peace deal will pave the way for negotiations over the presidential elections, starting 20 August. However, the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), the main rebel group, said it would not sign the deal, demanding a new committee to organize talks and release of rebel prisoners. ("Chad military gov’t, opposition groups sign peace deal in Qatar," Al Jazeera, 8 August 2022)

GHANA
Marburg death toll rises to three
On 2 August, the WHO said a child infected with the Marburg virus had died, bringing the total number of fatalities to three in Ghana. The virus is transferred from fruit bats to people and the 2022 outbreak is the second such outbreak in West Africa, the first one being in 2021. The virus can be spread through the transfer of bodily fluids and the symptoms include diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting. (“Child infected with Marburg virus dies in Ghana,” Al Jazeera, 2 August 2022)

THE GAMBIA
Two dead in heaviest rain in 30 years
On 3 August, the government said two people had died after The Gambia recorded its highest ever rainfall in 30 years. The Department of Water said 276mm of rain was recorded after torrential rains started on 30 July, leading to widespread floods. Previously, 1988 witnessed the highest rainfall at 175.4mm. (“Floods affect thousands in Gambia after heaviest rainfall in decades,” News24, 3 August 2022)

BURKINA FASO
Army admits to killing civilians in operation
On 3 August, the army admitted to having killed civilians in a counter-terrorism operation in the southeast few days earlier; 37 fatalities were recorded in a village near the border along Togo. An army statement said the civilians were unfortunate victims amid the operation to neutralise terrorists. (Thiam Ndaiaga, “Burkina Faso army admits killing civilians in counter-terrorist strike,” Reuters, 3 August 2022)

MALI
21 killed in “terrorist” attack
On 7 August, at least 21 people, including 17 soldiers were killed in an attack in Tessit, a border zone between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. On 8 August, the army said 22 soldiers injured and nine missing. The statement blamed terrorists for the incident and said seven people, likely to be members of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, were also killed. ("Suspected jihadists kill at least 21 in north Mali attack," France24, 9 August 2022)

SENEGAL
Ruling coalition, opposition fail to secure majority 
On 4 August, the provisional results revealed that President Macky Sall’s ruling coalition had failed to secure the majority in the parliamentary elections by one vote. The coalition has won 82 of the 165 seats. Meanwhile, the opposition too failed to secure the majority with 80 seats. The remaining three seats, won by small parties will decide the final results. This is the first time a National Assembly will be formed in Senegal without a clear majority; this development also indicates a fall in Macky’s popularity. (“Senegal: Governing coalition loses legislative majority,” Al Jazeera, 4 August 2022)

IVORY COAST
Ouattara pardons former president Gbagbo
On 6 August, President Alassane Ouattara said he had signed a decree granting presidential pardon to former president Laurent Gbagbo, to strengthen "social cohesion." This step would nullify the 20-year jail term handed to Gbagbo in 2018 for looting the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). The pardon comes weeks after Ouattara, Gbagbo and former president Henri Konan Bédié met on 14 July. ("Ivorian President Ouattara pardons predecessor Gbagbo to boost ‘social cohesion," France24, 7 August 2022)

SOUTH AFRICA
Migrants attacked by mob for alleged criminal activities
On 4 August, local residents of the Krugersdorp township attacked migrants accusing them of criminal activities in the area. The development comes after 130 people were arrested on charges of eight women near a mining dump on 28 July. The residents attacked the migrants with machetes, and hammers; they also stripped and whipped the migrants before setting the migrant camps on fire. A person present at the demonstration against the migrants said: “We want support from the police because the illegal miners are terrorising us. We cannot simply walk around the neighbourhood at night because they rape us.” Krugersdrop houses several criminal gangs attempting to exploit the abandoned mines in search of any leftover gold. Several immigrants from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe live in the area. (“Mob attacks illegal miners after rapes shock South Africa,” Reuters, 4 August 2022)

REGIONAL
Senegal government and separatist group sign peace agreement
On 4 August, the rebel group Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance signed a peace agreement with the federal government. Signing the agreement in The Gambia, the group agreed to lay down their arms. However, Amnesty International Senegal’s director the group did not pose a huge threat to regional stability; instead, groups operating along the Gambian border were more aggressive. Therefore, the director emphasised the need to include other groups in negotiations towards a peace deal. (Annika Hammerschlag, “Senegalese Separatists Sign Peace Deal With Government,” Voice of America, 5 August 2022)

INTERNATIONAL
US is not trying to outdo anyone, says Blinken
On 8 August, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed reporters in Pretoria, in the first leg of his tour of three African countries. Blinken said the US appeals to the African population, including civilians and governments, to embrace the US “vision of democracy, openness and economic partnership.” Blinken said the US was not attempting to “outdo anyone else,” maintaining that it does not perceive Africa as the “latest playing field in a competition between great powers.” In a direct reference to the presence of Russia’s private military company, Wagner Group, Blinken said the key to addressing terrorism and violence is not Wagner. Meanwhile, South Africa’s minister of international relations Naledi Pandor said that South Africa advocates for peace and said everyone should be concerned about the plight of Palestine. (“Blinken makes case for democracy at start of sub-Saharan Africa tour,” The Guardian, 8 August 2022)


About the authors
Anu Maria Joseph is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru. Apoorva Sudhakar is a Project Associate at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.


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January 2026 | CWA # 1940

IPRI Team

January 2026 | CWA # 1939

Lekshmi MK

January 2026 | CWA # 1937

Anu Maria Joseph

December 2025 | CWA # 1931

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1930

Aparna A Nair

December 2025 | CWA # 1924

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1914

Preetha Renganarayanan

December 2025 | CWA # 1913

Rohini Reenum

December 2025 | CWA # 1912

Lekshmi MK

December 2025 | CWA # 1911

Swati Sood

December 2025 | CWA # 1905

Femy Francis

December 2025 | CWA # 1902

Brighty Ann Sarah

December 2025 | CWA # 1893

Lekshmi MK

December 2025 | CWA # 1889

Femy Francis

December 2025 | CWA # 1881

Sunidhi Sampige

December 2025 | CWA # 1864

Femy Francis

Ten Takeaways of a SCMP Interview with a former PLA Colonel
December 2025 | CWA # 1861

Femy Francis

China Reader
November 2025 | CWA # 1859

Brighty Ann Sarah

November 2025 | CWA # 1858

Padmashree Anandhan

August 2025 | CWA # 1801

R Preetha

28 August 1963
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the Civil Rights Movement in the US
August 2025 | CWA # 1790

GP Team

The World This Week#323-324
The Trump-Putin meeting & the US-China tariff extension
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
Weaponization of access to the US economy
August 2025 | CWA # 1779

GP Team

The World This Week#322
US tariffs on India, Brazil and Canada & the EU-US trade deal
August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting the First World War
July 2025 | CWA # 1770

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Pakistan-Afghanistan relations:
Why the focus on terrorism, refugees, and Uzbekistan as the third partner?
July 2025 | CWA # 1769

GP Team

The World This Week#321
Indian PM Modi's visit to the Maldives I Elections to the Upper House in Japan
July 2025 | CWA # 1762

Lekshmi MK

Ocean Darkening: 
What is the phenomenon? What are its effects? And who are more vulnerable?
July 2025 | CWA # 1749

R Preetha

Africa as the Hunger Epicenter
Of the 13 Global Hunger Hotspots, 8 are in Africa: Five reasons why
July 2025 | CWA # 1748

GP Team

The World This Week #318
PM Modi’s Visit to Trinidad and Tobago & Ghana, One big beautiful bill, and Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting
July 2025 | CWA # 1744

Chittrothu Vaihali

EU-Canada Summit 2025
What is security and defence partnership all about?
July 2025 | CWA # 1742

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly # 287-88
The 12 Day War and the Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal
July 2025 | CWA # 1738

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Thailand and Cambodia
What was the phone call between PM Shinawatra and President of Senate Hun Sen? What is the border dispute between the two? Why has this become an issue?
June 2025 | CWA # 1735

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025:
Trump making Europe great again
June 2025 | CWA # 1734

GP Team

The World This Week #317
NATO Summit 2025 and Russia-Mali bilateral agreements
June 2025 | CWA # 1733

Ananya Dinesh

China and the Pacific Islands 
What was the recent China-PIC joint statement about? What it says, and what it means?
June 2025 | CWA # 1728

M Kejia

G7 Summit 2025:
The Focus on the Middle East and Trade negotiations
June 2025 | CWA # 1726

GP Team

The World This Week #316
China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, and the G7 Summit in Canada
June 2025 | CWA # 1725

Brighty Ann Sarah, R Preetha, Santhiya M, Aparna A Nair & M Kejia

Operation Midnight Hammer: US bombs three nuclear sites in Iran
What were the three Iranian nuclear sites that were targeted? What are the B2 Bombers and Bunker Buster Bombs? What do these attacks mean? What Next?
June 2025 | CWA # 1724

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #286
The Spiralling Israel-Iran Crisis, and the Dangerous Hunger Hotspots
June 2025 | CWA # 1721

Rizwana Banu S and Santhiya M

Who are the Afrikaners?
Why is Trump interested in the Afrikaner question in South Africa?
June 2025 | CWA # 1720

Lekshmi MK

New WMO Report on Arctic Warming
What are the social, economic and environmental implications of Arctic warming
June 2025 | CWA # 1719

J Yamini  

China’s EV Surge
What contributes to the rise of BYD
June 2025 | CWA # 1717

J Yamini

Gender Violence in Pakistan:
What are the larger issues in the Noor Mukadam case?
June 2025 | CWA # 1715

Femy Francis

The US-China:
On Tariffs, Rare Earths and Visas
June 2025 | CWA # 1713

GP Team

The World This Week #315
The UN Ocean Conference in France and the US-China Meeting in London
June 2025 | CWA # 1712

R Preetha

June 2025 | CWA # 1705

GP Team

The World This Week #314
Elections in South Korea and Poland I China and the Pacific Island Countries I Bangladesh Election Announcement 2026
June 2025 | CWA # 1703

M Kejia 

Sagarmatha Sambaad in Nepal
Kathmandu’s Global Agenda for the Himalayas
June 2025 | CWA # 1700

R Preetha

Ethiopia bans the TPLF
What does the TPLF ban mean for the Pretoria agreement? What next for Ethiopia?
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
Harvard vs Trump Administration
June 2025 | CWA # 1691

GP Team

The World This Week #313
China-ASEAN-GCC Summit I President Macron's visit to South East Asia I Trump Vs Harvard
May 2025 | CWA # 1690

GP Team

The World This Week #312
Elections in Romania, Portugal & Poland I UK-EU Summit
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
Continuing Russia’s Aerial Attacks, despite exchange of prisoners
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
The Humanitarian Crisis and Israel’s Renewed Offensive
May 2025 | CWA # 1685

Aparna A Nair

UK-EU Summit:
First step towards a reset
May 2025 | CWA # 1683

Aashish Ganeshan

Elections in Portugal:
The Rise of Chega Party and the Search for Political Stability
May 2025 | CWA # 1679

Aashish Ganeshan

US in the Middle Easr
Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE
May 2025 | CWA # 1678

Gauri Gupta

China in Latin America
China-CELAC forum: Strengthening ties with Latin America and Caribbean
May 2025 | CWA # 1677

GP Team

The World This Week #310-311
China in Latin America and the Carribbean I Trump's Middle East Visit I Denmark as the new Arctic Chair
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
PKK disbands after 40 years of armed insurgency
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
The Discussion in Turkiye and the Elusive Ceasefire
May 2025 | CWA # 1671

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

US, Ukraine and Russia:
Air attacks amidst a Minerals deal and Ceasefire Proposals
May 2025 | CWA # 1670

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Singapore Elections in 2025:
People’s Action Party (PAP) Wins, Again
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
Tough Tariff Negotiations with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1666

Padmashree Anandhan

The US-Ukraine
The mineral deal with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1665
Conflict Weekly # 280-81
India-Pakistan De-escalation I Ukraine Discussion in Istanbul I The Battle over Port Sudan I Disbanding of PKK in Turkiye I France-Algeria Diplomatic Tensions
May 2025 | CWA # 1663

R Preetha

Canada Elections 2025:
What do the results convey? What next for Mark Carney?
October 2024 | CWA # 1480

IPRI Team

July 2024 | CWA # 1413

Ramya B

May 2024 | CWA # 1336

Femy Francis

April 2024 | CWA # 1275

Ramya B

March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
March 2024 | CWA # 1246

Sivasubramanian K

February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
November 2023 | CWA # 1148

GP Team

October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
October 2023 | CWA # 1087

PR Team

October 2023 | CWA # 1083

GP Team

August 2023 | CWA # 1049

IPRI Team

July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
July 2023 | CWA # 1009

GP Team

December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
December 2022 | CWA # 872

Sapna Elsa Abraham

November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
September 2020 | CWA # 337

Anju Annie Mammen

February 2020 | CWA # 235

Lakshmi V Menon

September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon

The Maldives
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan

India
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej

Bangladesh
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer

Afghanistan
July 2018 | CWA # 47

Rahul Arockiaraj

June 2018 | CWA # 26

Siddhatti Mehta