The young African civil society activists who attended last week’s France-Africa summit in Montpellier gave voice to the surging frustration over their countries’ ties with France, and by extension other foreign powers.
Among the key themes that emerged was the demand for more transparency and an end to the old secret dealings among French and African political elites. “I think it was an extremely intense conversation that was very much needed,” said Amina Zakhnouf from Morocco who was among the 11 civil society activists on stage with President Emmanuel Macron. “We came here to [have] tough conversations and I think we brought exactly that,” said the founder of the NGO “I engage for Africa” in an interview with FRANCE 24.
Key Highlights From Young Activists at the Africa-France Summit:
- AID: “Aid makes you a slave. It’s been nearly a century that Africa has been the recipient for [foreign] development aid. It hasn’t worked. The sentiment to “save Africa” is over, it is over, Mr. President.” — Eldaa Koama, founder of the Yocowork in Burkina Faso (LE POINT — in French)
- ACCOUNTABILITY: “Mr. President, I invite you this evening, here at home, for an exercise in humility, political courage, respect and a meeting with history. Ask forgiveness of Africa and Africans. Stop empowering African dictators. Stop this paternalistic pseudo-cooperation. Plan a phased and defined system of withdrawal from your military bases in Africa” — Cheikh Fall, Senegalese journalist and blogger. (BBC NEWS — in French)
SUGGESTED READING:
- Agence France Presse: Macron confronts anger, impatience of young Africans by Cécile Feuillatre and Laurence Benhamou
- TV5MONDE: Profiles of the 11 Youth Activists Selected to Speak with President Macron
