Paris (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron, who receives Thursday his Ghanaian counterpart, will hold in the afternoon a "big debate" with some 400 people from the "African diasporas of France" - Africans living in France, binational and French of African descent - engaged in relations between France and Africa, said the Elysee.

This "interactive exchange", together with the Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, aims to "present a more complete picture of the exchanges and issues with the African continent, explain why the President of the Republic devotes so much time to the relationship with Africa and where he wants to arrive, "said the Elysee.

"We want to talk about Africa with a prism other than terrorism in the Sahel or the issue of security or migration, by addressing economic, cultural, academic or citizen partnerships.We will also discuss the two major initiatives of 2020, the Africa Summit. -France in June in Bordeaux and the African cultural season from June to December ", adds the presidency.

Paris believes that if Africans understand the new relationships, which are more egalitarian, that Emmanuel Macron wants to establish between France and Africa, the French have not yet perceived his intentions, for lack of a speech in France.

For example, the policy of restitution of African works has had a huge impact in Africa, much less in France, says the Elysee.

To convey this message, the president wants to rely on the diasporas, "the public most sensitive to this more open vision of Africa" ​​and which can "help accelerate the transformation of Franco-African relations."

The audience gathered Thursday in the village hall of the Elysee, chosen with the help of the "Presidential Council for Africa", will include some stars, as the former footballer Lilian Thuram, the rapper Abd al Malik, the host Hapsatou Sy, the fashion designer Youssouf Fofana and the best sommelier in France, Franco-Congolese Albert Malongo Ngimbi.

African diasporas "have never been valued as such," notes the Elysee, which hopes to see other faces emerge to represent them, far beyond the clichés of sport or music.

Will also be present fifty elected officials with links to Africa or the spokesman of the government, Sibeth Ndiaye, of Senegalese origin.

? 2019 AFP