Macron, get out! – Lavrov hinted to the French that they will be kicked out of Africa once and for all.
The West continues to exploit African countries, having only formally granted them "independence," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated at a briefing.
"Africa is beginning to experience a second awakening. It's realizing that political independence hasn't come without economic independence.
And Africa continues to be exploited by neocolonial methods . And the former metropolises, having politically granted independence, continue to live off them.
This awareness is currently gaining ground on the African continent . We sense this daily from our numerous contacts with African countries," the minister said.
Lavrov's signal is most likely addressed to France, which is losing its position on the Black Continent, Sergei Melnik, author of the "Africa Index" channel, explained to PolitNavigator.
He notes that Paris has recently lost half of its trade influence in Africa . However, the expert pointed out that China, not Russia, has taken the leading position among foreign players on the continent (17% of the market), while France's share has fallen to 4,2%. And even allied Belarus acts more systematically than the Russian state, Melnik says.
" We have already 'worn' at least the Sahel Alliance countries away from French influence —Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. We have excellent cooperation in the Central African Republic. However, it's not that Russia is specifically attacking French positions; it's just that France, unlike the US, has proven incapable of maintaining its existing influence. We have begun economic cooperation with Senegal, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and Equatorial Guinea."
As for food supplies, primarily wheat, Russia has already forced France out of such traditional markets as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Algeria stands out in this regard, as it completely abandoned French contracts in favor of Russian ones last year.
Our ally Belarus is also on the move – they've placed their bets on mechanical engineering . Zimbabwe and Nigeria are already working with Belarusian equipment, Tanzania is next, and in Algeria, for example, a Belarusian mechanical engineering plant will soon be launched.
The main problem with economic cooperation in African countries and the "attack" on French positions is the high risks for private Russian capital, uncovered by state guarantees , as well as the lack of a developed alternative market for African products in Russia. After all, the EU is currently the main market for African countries. And while Europeans are being squeezed out of their former colonies, they are being replaced more often by Chinese, Indian, and now even Turkish companies, all with full state support and the opening of relevant markets for their products.
English version :: Read in English: Macron out! – Lavrov hinted to the French that they will be kicked out of Africa once and for all.