The New Africa – France Partnership Inspired by the Montpellier Summit

The visit of French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to continue discussions of the new Africa France cooperation.

October 8, 2021 marked the shift in cooperation between Africa and France. This was during the New Africa-France Summit held in Montpellier, France.

The new framework brings on board young African and French talents to reflect and take common action the will drive development.

The initiative targets Citizen Engagement, Entrepreneurship and innovation, Higher education and research, Culture and Sport.

The Montpellier Summit was a materialisation of the ambition of the French President, Emmanuel Macron to renew the relationship between France and Africa through a number of commitments made in a speech in Ouagadougou on November 28, 2017.  It marked a culmination of the dialogue process organized since the beginning of 2021.

The New Vision of Africa France Relations

The new orientation with new actors and new themes sort to address new challenges and set a new perspective on the relationship between Africa and France.

Plenary session discussions took place between French President Emmanuel Macron and, for the Africa-France Dialogues, Achille Mbembe and a group of young African and French talents.

The Cameroonian historian, political theorist, Joseph-Achille Mbembe, is research professor in history and politics at the Wits Institute for Social and Economy Research at the University of the Witwatersrand.

The Summit was also occasion to examine the evolution of Africa-France relationship from the economy to culture, sport and the environment.

New Paradigms of Africa-France Relationship

The priority areas of cooperation featured five major axis:

–          Facilitating access to school and higher education, including by increasing mobility opportunities;

–          Modalities for providing support to entrepreneurship and innovation;

–          Enabling the forging of a new common consciousness, including by strengthening our remembrance ties;

–          Accompanying Africa on the frontline in the climate transition;

–          Working to renew development assistance to foster a relationship of partnership.

A platform for the actors of the Africa-France relationship

The New Africa-France Summit highlighted and offered a platform to help forge a common future for Africa and France, including actors from diasporas, entrepreneurs, and the cultural, artistic and sporting sectors.

Young people play a key role as regards education, mobility, governance and economic development, and they are a source of solutions to address the major challenges of today and tomorrow, experts highlighted.

Africa-France Dialogues

The Dialogues create opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to addressing shared challenges.  Proposals were presented at the plenary session with the President of the French Republic and representatives of African youth.

So far, twelve countries have launched the process of dialogue since the beginning of 2021: Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.

It is expected that discussions will continue during the meeting between President Macron and African youths at the Noah village in Tongolo, Yaounde.

Elvis Teke

Elvis Teke

Journalist, Online Reporter, News Presenter, Programme Anchor, Peace Advocate, Geo-strategist,

elvisteke has 1916 posts and counting.See all posts by elvisteke

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