Macron pledges support to help Guinea-Bissau gain stability, fight terrorism

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) – The French president on Thursday pledged funding for Guinea Bissau's economic development and fight against terrorism, as he wrapped up a three-country Africa tour after traveling to Cameroon and Benin.

Emmanuel Macron met Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who became the chair of the West African economic bloc ECOWAS earlier this month.

West Africa is facing extremist attacks and several coups since August 2020.

At a joint press conference, Macron said France will provide short-term budget support of at least €3 million, and fund an agriculture project worth €1.5 million.

"Beyond that, we have also decided to strengthen bilateral cooperation on defense in the field of equipment, the fight against maritime piracy and illegal fishing and the training of military officers," he added.

France will launch a program to rehabilitate sports facilities, training, and sports education in Bissau, the French president said.

Emballo, for his part, said Macron's visit demonstrates his keen interest in Africa in general and West African countries in particular.

Aside from their bilateral relationship, both leaders discussed the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea Conakry, all of which are in transition after military coups.

They discussed and agreed to take on the risk of destabilization in the Sahel, which has been undermined by terrorism and poses a threat to the entire West African region.

Macron also seized the opportunity to alert Africans on Russian influence in the region, and blamed Russia for the war in Ukraine that began in February.

He expressed concern on the rise in violence against civilians in the Sahel, and more broadly in the sub-region, and in particular the actions of "mercenary elements of the Russian Wagner group deployed in Mali, whose actions are now documented by UN reports."​​​​​​​