The Africa-France Summit 2026, scheduled to take place in Montpellier, highlights the criticisms made by CCFD-Terre Solidaire regarding French economic policy in Africa. The organization claims that, over the past ten years, France has hindered essential economic reforms for African countries.

In a report published ahead of this summit, CCFD-Terre Solidaire emphasizes that France has blocked labor market liberalization reforms as well as measures aimed at strengthening corporate taxation, particularly in the mining and oil sectors. These reforms were deemed essential for enabling African states to access the international financing necessary for their development, according to the organization.

The report specifies that these obstacles have had significant consequences on the ability of African countries to implement development policies. Indeed, without a flexible labor market and appropriate taxation, states struggle to attract foreign investments and generate sufficient revenues to finance their social and infrastructure projects.

“France must reconsider its economic policy towards Africa, which seems to favor its interests more than the actual needs of African countries,” stated a representative of CCFD-Terre Solidaire. This statement highlights the ongoing tensions between the expectations of African countries and the actions of France, often perceived as a former colonial power.

The Africa-France Summit 2026, which will take place in the context of a global health and economic crisis, could be an opportunity for French authorities to reassess their approach. African countries, seeking more balanced partnerships, expect concrete commitments regarding support for their economic reforms.

As previously reported by LE JOURNAL.AFRICA in 'Hindrance to Economic Reforms Expected by African Countries Ahead of the Africa-France Summit 2026', these criticisms are not new. They are part of a broader debate on the relationship between France and its former colonies, a topic that has been at the heart of discussions during previous Africa-France summits.

As the summit approaches, the expectations of African countries are high. They hope that France, under the presidency of Emmanuel Macron, will take significant measures to support the economic reforms necessary for their sustainable development.