Reacting to French President Emmanuel Macron’s latest remarks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at her weekly press conference on Wednesday that Moscow is not interested in Paris’ opinion on the development of relations between Russia and Africa.
Emmanuel Macron had expressed concern about the development of diplomatic and military relations between Russia and African countries.
Furthermore, Maria Zakharova said that Macron’s statement illustrates that Paris views Africa through the prism of its colonial past and not as an independent geographical entity.
The spokesperson added that Russia has always respected the sovereignty of its African partners and behaves with these countries on this basis.
She concluded by saying that it is entirely up to the African countries to decide to develop their relations with this or that state according to their interests, the opportunities presented, and their situation. This does not concern Paris in any case.