o France uniquely suited for partnership in Francophone Africa

♤ Second, in recent years, new drivers of the putative African century have emerged; these include which are both sources of opportunity and challenges

o lower commodity prices,

o greater democracy,

o rise in militancy,

o population growth,

o preponderance of youth and

o urbanization.

♤ Last but not the least, although Africa has lost some of its economic attractiveness, the long-term importance of the continent is undimmed.