Radical South African left manifest against presence of France in Africa

Hundreds of sympathizers of fighters for economic freedom, the party of Julius Malema in South Africa, gathered in front of the French Embassy in Pretoria.

Le Monde

A few hundred sympathizers of the South African radical left left in Pretoria, Wednesday, May 25, so that France, taxed by postcolonial imperialism, leaves the African continent, noted AFP. In the colors of the party led by Julius Malema, the fighters for economic freedom (EFF), T-shirts and red caps with a logo in the shape of Africa, brandished “France outside”, “the wealth of France On the backs of Africans “or” repairs for colonial crimes “.

The demonstrators landed in the morning in the South African capital aboard the bus chartered by the party and gathered a few streets from the French Embassy, ​​an AFP team noted. “Will make you fuck France, will make you fuck!” Chanted an activist on an open scene on an open truck, the little crowd taking up the slogans in chorus, before getting closer to the grids of the embassy, ​​protected by A cord of armed police officers.

“A solid partner”

“France has its dirty little fingers still deeply sunk into its former French colonies. African countries cannot breathe, said Leigh-Ann Mathys, a spokesperson for the eff. Not that France, but France is there on the front line. Today, we tell France to let Africa manage its affairs independently. “The effers will always against the Imperialism of the West “, has advanced another spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo:” The France-Africa relationship must change, African countries must be considered as partners and not only as suppliers of raw materials. “

The embassy said in a press release that “France is a solid partner in South Africa” ​​and that it “fully respects the integrity, sovereignty and independence of all African nations”. France and South Africa “work together” in many sectors. “We will continue to strengthen our links and our cooperation,” she promises.

/Media reports.