Macron Scolds Audience During Africa Visit: "If You Want to Talk, Please Leave"

France Announces 23 Billion Euro Investment in Africa
Macron Seeks to Reset Relations with English-Speaking African Nations

As France moves to reset its relationship with Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly scolded some noisy audience members at an event in Kenya, calling their behavior "completely rude."

On the 11th, Yonhap News, citing French daily Le Figaro and others, reported that President Macron shouted at the disruptive audience members while attending a side event of the "Africa Forward" summit held at the University of Nairobi in Kenya that day.

As France moves to reset its relationship with Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly reprimanded some noisy audience members at an event in Kenya, calling their behavior "completely rude." Photo by AP Yonhap News

At the time, Ghanaian fashion designer and environmental activist Yaira Agbovonai was delivering a speech at the side event. As the commotion in the audience continued, President Macron personally took the stage and grabbed the microphone. He first apologized in English, saying, "Sorry, everyone," for interrupting the speech, and then raised his voice toward the audience, saying, "Hey, hey." He continued, "At an event where we are talking about culture and such inspiring people are speaking, it is impossible to proceed with this kind of noise." He then added, "This is completely rude behavior. If you want to talk separately, go to another room or leave. If you want to stay here, you need to listen to the speaker and follow the same rules as everyone else."

After President Macron returned to his seat, the audience applauded. However, some in France criticized his actions as excessively authoritarian. Daniel Obono, a member of the far-left party France Unbowed, wrote on X, "I cannot stand it when, as soon as he sets foot on the African continent, he behaves like a colonialist."

President Macron announced a plan to invest a total of 23 billion euros, approximately 27 trillion won, during this summit, stating that France and Africa will expand cooperation in areas such as energy transition, digital and artificial intelligence, marine economy, and agriculture. Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

This event was part of the "Africa Forward: Africa-France Innovation and Growth Partnership" summit, co-hosted by Kenya and France. The summit was held in Nairobi from the 11th to the 12th, with more than 30 African leaders, businesspeople, and representatives from international financial institutions in attendance. During this summit, President Macron announced a plan for France and Africa to expand cooperation in fields such as energy transition, digital and artificial intelligence, marine economy, and agriculture, with a total investment of 23 billion euros, approximately 27 trillion won. Of this, 14 billion euros will come from French public and private funds, while 9 billion euros will be raised by African investors.

The reason France is putting significant effort into this summit is its recent decline in influence in Africa. France's military and diplomatic presence has been significantly reduced in former French colonies in West Africa, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, due to the spread of military regimes and growing anti-French sentiment. Accordingly, President Macron is seeking to move beyond 'former colony-centered' relations by expanding cooperation with English-speaking African countries like Kenya to establish equal economic and security partnerships.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.