French FM Wraps Up Three-Nation Africa Tour in Cote d’Ivoire

The French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné undertook a flash three-nation tour of Africa from 6 to 8 April 2024. He visited Nairobi, Kigali and Abidjan successively and spent just one day in each country.

According to RFI, the move is motivated to counteract the rising influence of China and Russia in Africa. It is to be recalled that Russia and China are at odds with France, and the West at large for that matter, on the war in Ukraine.

Minister Séjourné commended Cote d’Ivoire for its consistent robust growth over the past decade. He made reference to the ‘privileged relation’ between France and Cote d’Ivoire against the backdrop of other West African nations turning away from Paris.

Séjourné also noted the strong #P2P ties between France and Cote d’Ivoire with the presence of a strong Ivorian diaspora in France. He also stressed the importance of having ‘balanced relationships’ between France and Africa.

Among the themes evoked during the bilat were the Abidjan Metro, the FCFA currency and regional security. For the Abidjan Metro, Alstom is providing the rolling stock while Keolis will assist in the Operation and Maintenance.