Colonialism was a grave mistake: French PM Emmanuel Macron
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Earlier, Macron had referred to French colonisation of Algeria as a ''crime against humanity''
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France on Saturday referred to colonialism as a ''grave mistake''. Additionally, he spoke about ''turning the page'' on the past while he was visiting Ivory Coast's Abidjan, a former French colony in West Africa.
Macron claimed that "[France was seen as] hegemonistic view and the trappings of colonialism that was a grave mistake and a fault of the Republic."
"I belong to a generation which was not part of the colonial-era'', he said.
"Three-fourths of your country never knew colonialism," he said, addressing Ivorians and called on African youth to "build a new partnership of friendship with France."
Earlier, during his election campaign for the presidency, Macron had referred to French colonisation of Algeria as a ''crime against humanity''.
Looking back at a TV interview in 2017, Macron had referred to eight years of war in Algeria as ''genuinely barbaric, and constitute a part of our past that we have to confront by apologising''. Algeria achieved independence in 1962.
(With inputs from agencies)