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President Emmanuel Macron vowed Friday a full reckoning with the legacy of colonialism as young Africans assailed France’s “arrogance” and “paternalism” at a conference aimed at forging a new partnership with the continent.
“We as Africans feel the pain of colonisation every single day,” Adelle Onyango, a Kenyan media figure, told Macron during a panel discussion, accusing France of living in “denial” of its “destructive past”.
“What we end up with is scepticism of what exactly does France stand for,” she said to fierce applause at the meeting of around 3,000 Africans invited to the gathering in Montpellier.
Onyango was one of 11 young Africans who politely peppered Macron with criticism during a plenary session, and urged him to support democratic renewal in countries where leaders are holding onto power under “democratic dictatorships”.
“Stop cooperating and collaborating with these dictator presidents,” said Cheikh Fall, an influential Senegalese blogger, asking that France offer an apology for colonial-era crimes.
Africa-France Summit: ‘Less about assistance and more about investment’
Macron responded that Paris routinely voiced disapproval of political or military coups on the continent, and reduced cooperation with authoritarian regimes.
“I have never set up a military base unless being asked” by democratically legitimate leaders, he added.
With regards to France’s colonial past, Macron said that “asking for an apology is too easy… I don’t believe that we can free ourselves of this history.”
“I believe in a…
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Source : france24
