Macron Hails African Diaspora as Asset for France at Montpellier Summit

"For decades, you have been told that you had to apologize for not being completely French. You are completely French. France is married by its values, its history, its language," Emmanuel Macron addressed the African youth at the Montpellier summit. "Something has been put into your mind: it would be a minus to be from the diaspora. This is a huge mistake. It is a plus for you and for France. Our diaspora is an opportunity for what we have to do in France and to help us succeed in this adventure with Africa," he added.

His wish is that these dual nationals carry his messages on the other side of the Mediterranean. France, Emmanuel Macron will say, was built in this relationship with Africa. Specifying that his country has nearly 7 million French people whose life is intimately, family-wise, directly, in the first or second generation, linked to Africa, the Head of State argues that "we cannot have a France that builds its own national novel if it does not assume its share of Africanness, if it does not look through its dark or happy pages, its tragic or love stories that have made and continue to make our country."

The French president also announced the creation of a house of African worlds and diasporas and called for the appointment of more people from these diasporas in the diplomatic network. The House of African Worlds "will be a place of culture, debate of ideas, research and entrepreneurship." "We are not perfect. The reality is that our national representation, like our administration, is not yet the true face of France," the French Head of State pointed out.