France has already announced it’s scaling down its military presence on the African continent.

He’s hoping to regain influence on a continent where the former colonial power now faces competition from other nations, notably China and Russia.

Macron says he wants to reset ties – promising a new partnership of equals.

He’s visiting countries he has not been to before: Gabon, Angola, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

France has announced it’s scaling back its military presence on the continent – pulling out of Mali, the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso, where the government ordered its troops out.

So, can Macron improve relations with African nations?

Presenter: Tom McRae

Guests:

Lara Marlowe – Author and journalist based in France, covering events there and serving as a foreign correspondent for many years

Marie-Roger Biloa – President of Africa International Media Group and an Africa affairs analyst

Marisa Lourenco – Political risk analyst specialising in the Horn of Africa