Africa press review

Headlines: Emmanuel Macron in Cameroon, a visit that is already drawing criticism

Audio 04:11

French President Emmanuel Macron begins an African tour this Monday, July 25, which should take him to Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau (photo illustration).

© AFP/Ludovic Marin

By: Adrien Delgrange

3 mins

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Provided that the armed conflict in English-speaking Cameroon is not “

 passed over in silence.

As a plea from the

Africa 21

news site . 

For more than five years, the English-speaking regions of the northwest and southwest of Cameroon have been experiencing a major political and security crisis.

A conflict that left more than 6,000 dead.

[...] 

Despite the fierce repression of the authorities

, vituperates Africa 21,

the rest of the world acts as if nothing had happened, starting with France, which prefers to speak of

"socio-economic troubles"

 in order to spare Paul Biya

 “says the online newspaper.

“ 

A Cameroonian presidency which has not skimped on the means to polish the image of the regime of Paul Biya in power for 40 years,

adds

Cameroon info

.

 A figure in particular challenges, that of unemployment, in the official document presented to the national press to announce the arrival of Emmanuel Macron.

We learn that the unemployment rate in Cameroon is 3.9%.

 » 

A statement that triggered an avalanche of critical comments on social networks.

Most Internet users question this figure published by the presidency, especially since recently, the National Institute of Statistics (INS), which is the official statistics service in Cameroon, affirmed that the unemployment rate in the country is by 6.1%. 

The announcement of Emmanuel Macron's visit is already causing a lot of ink to flow

In a vitriolic column published on social networks and taken up by

Cameroon info

, the Franco-Cameroonian novelist Calixte Beyala does not miss the leaders of the CPDM, the ruling party.

“ 

I find it unacceptable that at a time when the Cameroonian people are hungry, the CPDM can release 10 million of our unfortunate francs to go and welcome a head of state!

Has France already put men along the way to welcome an African leader?

We ourselves give others the opportunity to despise us… A bouquet of flowers and a few bikers are enough! 

»

The novelist also does not appreciate the collaboration between French President Macron and his compatriot Achille Mbembe.

The announcement of the presence of the academic in the luggage of Emmanuel Macron during his visit to his country literally annoys the icon of French-speaking literature: " 

Macron arrives in Cameroon with French-African artists and in his sub- soil, the major asset of Françafrique: Achille Mbembe.

Achille Mbembe is the one who helped Macron organize the Montpellier circus

– a reference to the Africa-France summit – 

where they tried,

says Calixte Beyala

, to corrupt African youth.

 »

Also on the front page, the referendum on the Constitution in Tunisia 

But where has the Tunisian intelligentsia gone?

“ 

The Tunisian elite no longer makes much noise.

She was more expressive and restless, even under the Ben Ali regime

, deplores

Jeune Afrique

Tunisia seems to be recovering with difficulty from the shock of the revolution which froze it in a sort of amazement.

It would have liked to play a role, to impose a leadership in terms of ideas and thought, but was deprived of room for maneuver or victim of attempts by political parties to take it over

,

 ”

laments

Jeune Afrique.

The setbacks of star singer Yemi Alade at Canadian customs

“ 

Nigerian artist

Yemi Alade

still cannot believe her eyes.

The Afropop superstar travels all over the world for her concerts, but this time around, she was denied a visa to enter Canada.

The reason invoked by the country is completely preposterous

, protests

Net Afrique

Canada refused a visa to Yemi Alade because it fears that the artist will settle there permanently. 

»

The singer was to go up, Sunday July 24 in the evening, on the stage of the International Festival Nuits d'Afrique.

For the director of the festival, it was obvious that the artist was not going to stay in Canada.

But nothing helped, even the intervention of Canadian MPs.

Yemi Alade was replaced by Zambian artist Sampa the Great.

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