Macron’s abstention from traveling to African coastal countries

Macron refrains from traveling to coastal countries in Africa

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, will travel to four Central African countries while France is changing its strategy in the African continent.

This diplomatic trip by Mr. Macron begins with a visit to Gabon, followed by visits to other countries after France withdrew its forces from Mali and Burkina Faso.

Now, the President of France will not visit Mali, Burkina Faso, or any other coastal countries in Africa, which have been criticized by Paris for failing to contain Islamist extremists. Both Mali and Burkina Faso have now invited private Russian military companies to help combat the insurgent militants.

French diplomats hope that Mr. Macron’s trip will be diplomatically significant in countering Russian and Chinese influence in Africa. Since 2013, the G5 Sahel Joint Force, led by France, has been working to weaken and eliminate insurgent and extremist groups along the African coast, including Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad.