Arthur de Laborde (special envoy to Gabon) 6:55 a.m., March 2, 2023

Emmanuel Macron has started a tour in four Central African countries: Gabon, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

For his first stop, the Head of State stopped in Libreville on Wednesday where he dined with his counterpart Ali Bongo.

He will co-chair the One Forest summit this Thursday.

This is the first leg of his four-day mini-African tour.

In Libreville since Wednesday evening, Emmanuel Macron will participate this Thursday in the One Forest summit, a summit on the protection of the equatorial forest, which despite the good intentions should not prove decisive.

He will then travel to Angola, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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Remunerate States that protect their forests

The objective of this summit is very ambitious, as explained by the French Minister for Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu.

"Until now, those who deforest derive an economic advantage, because no matter how much we cried, in the end, these products reach us! How do we reverse that? First by fighting against deforestation and then by financing those who do not deforest."

Remunerating the states that protect their forests is therefore the main issue.

Gabon has been asking for it for a long time, without much success so far.

It must be said that the financial mechanisms are very complex and that they are not unanimous among the experts.

Whatever progress will be made here at the summit, there will still be a long way to go to put in place truly virtuous solutions.

Especially since no Latin American leader is present here in Libreville.

However, they are obviously the first concerned by deforestation.

The Amazon today emits more carbon than it captures.

Anti-French sentiment in the streets

After Gabon, Emmanuel Macron will fly to Angola, Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Four African countries in four days, against a background of rejection of France in favor of China, Russia and even Turkey.

An important international sequence for Paris which is trying to win back the hearts of Africans.

An anti-French feeling that manifests itself in the streets.

On Tuesday, young Congolese protested in Kinshasa against the arrival of Emmanuel Macron.