French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna does not advise African countries to exchange the Fifth Republic for Russia. She made such a statement in light of the loss of Paris’s position in the Sahel.
During the press conference, one of the journalists asked Colonna whether France was losing its grip on Africa due to Paris’s breakdown in relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, given that Moscow’s influence on the continent is growing.
“If I were in your place, I would not exchange France for Russia,” – she said.
The diplomat also asked not to confuse Africa and the Sahel. According to her, the continent is very large and diverse.
“With the exception of the Sahel, our relations with other countries are on the rise, which we are very happy about.”said the head of the French Foreign Ministry.
The Sahel is a tropical savannah region in Africa near Niger, a former French colony that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in the summer of 2023. The rebels said they denounced the military agreements with the Fifth Republic and demanded the withdrawal of its troops and the expulsion of the ambassador.
