Ten years after Ouagadougou: assessment, realignments and prospects for Africa–France relations
Inaugural conference of Afstrat’s Strategic Meetings, planned for March 2027 at a partner academic institution in France. Project in preparation: dates and venue to be confirmed.
Afstrat’s Strategic Meetings · In preparation
From the Ouagadougou speech to 2027: a critical assessment of a decade
In November 2017, in Ouagadougou, Emmanuel Macron announced “a new relationship of friendship” with Africa, breaking with Françafrique. Ten years later, the conference weighs these commitments against the actual trajectory of Franco-African relations.
It examines the legacy of the decade, the stance of African states and diasporas, and the future dynamics of this singular relationship. The content presented here comes from a draft concept note and may change.
Status
In preparation · draft
Planned date
20 – 21 March 2027 (provisional)
Venue
Partner academic or research institution in France, to be confirmed
Organiser
Africa Strategia, with academic partners
Format
International conference, five thematic axes
Call
Not yet published
Provisional calendar
Planned milestones
30 September 2026
Launch of the call for papers
20 November 2026
Abstract submission deadline
15 December 2026
Notification to selected authors
20 – 21 March 2027
Holding of the conference
Planned axes
Five axes drawn from the Ouagadougou speech
Each axis examines how the 2017 promises were concretely delivered, the policies implemented, the results and their limits.
Axis 1
Foreign policy and diplomacy
From summits between heads of state to a diplomacy involving civil society, youth, diasporas and economic actors, open to non-French-speaking countries.
Axis 2
Security and defence cooperation
End of a contested military presence, denounced defence agreements, diversification of strategic partners.
Axis 3
Culture, remembrance work and heritage restitution
Axis 4
Student mobility, higher education and science diplomacy
Axis 5
Economic development, investment, entrepreneurship and innovation
Objectives
What the conference aims to produce
A critical assessment of the Franco-African partnership over the past decade.
A reading of the legacy of the current French political cycle.
An analysis of the stance of African countries and their diasporas.
A collective reflection on the prospects for Africa–France relations.
Afstrat
A conference to launch our activities
Africa Strategia, a platform founded in France in 2025 by young academics from Africa, Europe and North America.
Following Colloquium 409 at Acfas and the network built around its publications, this conference opens a cycle of strategic meetings.