Emmanuel Macron is France’s first president who did not live through or experience the country’s colonialist past. He stated early in his first mandate a will to shift Paris’ African strategy and to break away from this past, recognizing historical mistakes and building a new relationship. This shift in strategy was not merely the result of a deep self-reflection but also a necessity to adapt to global geopolitical changes in order to stay relevant. It is a way to manage France’s decline in influence and capacity to impact African files.