Macron expresses concern over Russia-Africa rapprochement
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his concern over the expansion of Russia's diplomatic and military relations with a number of African countries, coinciding with a five-day tour by French Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to several African countries.
"I will not call it cooperation, it is like complicity with weak political authorities or illegal military councils," Macron said at a joint press conference with Cameroonian President Paul Biya, on Tuesday.
According to the French president, Russia is a "great political and military power" that has economic and military relations with many African countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Cameroon, starting a three-country tour of West Africa, as part of his efforts to revive France's relationship with the continent in the post-colonial era.
Macron had angered the Cameroonian president in 2020, after declaring that he would put "maximum pressure" on him due to the "unbearable" violence in this West African country.
Macron's visit comes at a time when the influence of France, the former colonial power, in Africa has declined in relation to China, India and Germany, especially in the economic and commercial sectors.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news