July 27,2022:French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised Russia’s influence in Africa, deeming it a “preoccupation” for the continent’s people, during an official visit to Cameroon.
Speaking in Yaounde alongside his Cameroon counterpart Paul Biya, Macron said Russia’s presence in Africa was based on “misinformation, militias and … complicity with weakened powers”.
“France, as a friend of Africa, will do everything so that … this format [of Russian influence] does not spread too much, because I do not think it is a good thing. I especially think it’s not good for the people,” Macron said.
Biya, whose government signed a cooperation agreement with Russia in April, said the accord was “normal” and constituted only an act of managing its bilateral relations with the country, in effect since 2015.
