France’s President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 13, 2026. (AFP Photo)
May 15, 2026 10:06 AM GMT+03:00
French President Emmanuel Macron said France has lost ground in Africa to competitors including China, Türkiye and the U.S., citing what he described as decades of complacency and arrogance by French institutions and companies.
Speaking at the closing session of the “Africa Forward” business forum, Macron said France had been “shaken up in Africa” over the past 25 years.
He described the trend as “normal” and even positive, while urging France to build a new relationship with African countries based on equality and partnership.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) attends a trilateral meeting with United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (not seen) and African Union Commission’s President Mahamoud Ali Youssouf at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 13, 2026. (AFP Photo)
French influence declines in Africa
Macron said French companies and administrations had depended too heavily on France’s historical links with African countries and failed to remain competitive.
“They believed there was a reserved sphere where being French meant everything was automatically open,” Macron said.
The French president said African countries were making rational economic decisions by choosing more competitive partners. He highlighted the growing role of Beijing and Ankara across the continent, saying France had been outpaced by rivals including China, Türkiye and the U.S.
Macron’s remarks reflected his view that France’s position in Africa had weakened because French institutions and companies assumed past relationships would continue to provide automatic advantages.
He said Africa no longer accepts a model based only on aid or on outside powers dictating solutions for African markets.
Macron calls for equal partnership
Macron called for what he described as a “conceptual revolution,” saying France should abandon a “vertical logic” centered on providing aid and instead adopt a relationship with African countries built on equality and partnership.
He said the new approach should focus on “co-investing, co-producing and co-inventing” with African nations.
His comments emphasized the need for France to move away from a top-down approach and toward cooperation with African countries as partners.
Macron also underlined Africa’s economic potential, saying the continent’s growth has surpassed that of Southeast Asia in recent years.
He said the shift in France’s position in Africa should be seen as a reason to rethink its approach rather than only as a setback.
The French president said France needed to respond to changing realities on the continent, where African governments and markets are increasingly choosing partners based on competitiveness rather than historical ties.
May 15, 2026 10:06 AM GMT+03:00