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Politics
Frank Gerits, Research Fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa and Assistant Professor in the History of International Relations, Utrecht University

Macron in Africa: a cynical twist to repair the colonial past while keeping a tight grip

Emmanuel Macron Africa France ECOWAS Benin GuineaBissau Cameroon Mali Algeria United States
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo (R) during Macron's visit in July 2022. Photo by Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

In late July 2022 French president Emmanuel Macron concluded a tour of Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau. And he visits Algeria between 25 and 27 August.

At first glance, his choice of countries is difficult to understand. Three former French colonies – Cameroon, Benin and Algeria – and a former Portuguese colony, Guinea-Bissau, seem very different.

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