Rethinking Francophone Africa

Critical perspectives

Sahel force could tackle jihadists ‘without antagonizing communities’

Posted on 17th December 2017 by Danielle Hayter

A new African military force in the Sahel region could be operational in the next few months after donors pledged millions at a conference in France. Paul Melly from Chatham House talked to DW about the G5 Sahel force.

The heads of state of the G5 countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Niger – met with European delegates to discuss the financing and organization of the new Sahel force at a conference near Paris on Wednesday.

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This article was originally published on Deutsche Welle (DW)

Ghana’s president surprised Macron with a clear rejection of development aid

Posted on 14th December 2017 by Danielle Hayter

After the AU-EU summit in Abidjan, French President Emmanuel Macron visited several African states, including Ghana. But contrary to other African heads of state, Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has a clear vision of how to make his country independent from development aid. EURACTIV Germany reports.

“We can no longer pursue a policy for our countries and regions that is based on the support given by the West, France or the European Union. This has not worked and it will not work,” Akufo-Addo told a joint press conference with Macron, who was visibly surprised by the statements made by the Ghanaian president.

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This article was originally published on EURACTIV