For the first leg of his African tour, Emmanuel Macron wants to make a good impression. Before the French community in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, the president wanted to clarify his point of view on corruption while the country is considered one of the most corrupt in the world according to various international rankings.

“It is not true that there can be good economic projects when they are based on massive corruption. And then we have to help regulate the issues of corruption and over-indebtedness that are a scourge for the African continent,” launched the tenant. of the Elysée on Tuesday afternoon.

“France could have used” corruption

Before acknowledging France’s responsibility, after years of sometimes very commercial relations between the continent and Paris.

“And I say this with great humility because decades ago France and the Europeans may have used these instruments”

Since its election in 2017, the Elysée has tried to renew the complicated relations with the African continent. This trip also aims to revive economic relations between Cameroon and France, which have been losing momentum for several years.

Macron does not accept that “other regions of the world” consider “everything possible”

Emmanuel Macron also wanted to send a message to China, the main partner of this West African country, without naming it. Beijing currently holds 60% of Yaoundé’s bilateral debt.

“Let’s be lucid with ourselves, we drive away (these corrupt practices, editor’s note), we regulate, we establish rules. We cannot accept that companies, coming from other regions of the world, consider here that everything is possible”, he added. the president advanced.

The Head of State will continue his African tour in the coming days via Benin and Guinea-Bissau.