Emmanuel Macron criticized the continent's 'hypocrisy' towards Russia and its invasion of Ukraine. Countering Moscow's influence in Africa was one of key objectives of Emmanuel Macron's visit to Cameroon, Benin, and Guinea-Bissau.
During a press conference with his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya, the French president broached the subject from Tuesday's first speech in Yaoundé.
"I too often see hypocrisy, especially on the African. I'm saying this very calmly — with some not calling it a war when it is one and saying they don't know who started it because they have diplomatic pressures," said the chief of State, without directly designating Russia. He sees a contrast between this attitude and that of the Europeans, which "is in no way to participate in this war, but to recognize it and name it."
Most African states refrained from criticizing Russia after its offensive against Ukraine. The French president affirmed that France was 'the country which has committed itself the most to African states at their request for their security."But within a clear framework, at the request of a sovereign state and to fight against terrorism." According to him, "this framework was no longer fulfilled after the military coup in Mali."
In the meantime, Sergei Lavrov, a veteran Russian diplomat, is on tour through African countries as well, visiting Egypt, Congo, Uganda and Ethiopia. He wrote a column published in newspapers in these countries: "We appreciate the considered African position as to the situation in and around Ukraine. Although unprecedented in scale, the pressure from beyond has not brought our friends to join the anti-Russian sanctions. Such an independent path deserves deep respect."
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