Youth Activists at France-Africa Summit: “We Expect to Be Part of the Process”

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.

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by Eric Olander

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