The Interview

• Senegal’s democratic transition ‘sends positive message to other regimes’, says French FM Séjourné

  At the end of a three-day tour that took him successively to Kenya, Rwanda and Ivory Coast, France's Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné spoke to FRANCE 24 and RFI about relations with Rwanda, reform of the CFA franc, France's military presence in Africa and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné gave an exclusive interview to FRANCE 24 and RFI, from Abidjan in Ivory Coast, after completing his first African tour. The head of French diplomacy spoke in particular about the issues marking relations between Paris and the states of the African continent.On France’s actions during the genocide of Rwanda’s Tutsis, which he described as “the last genocide of the 20th century”,  Séjourné said France had “acknowledged responsibility for what was done”.Read moreGenocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda: how historians reckon with the horrorReacting to the election of Senegalese opponent Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the presidency, Séjourné said:  “I would like to say to you that the democratic process has worked. There's been a political shift, as has been the case in many countries. Now, there are different policies at play, but I think all of us can be quite happy to see that the Senegalese institutions were strong, that people were able to vote and elections were held in a completely transparent manner.”“This is what we call a democracy that it is alive, and I think it sends a positive message to other regimes who believe that power only comes through force,” the minister said.Regarding the new Senegalese president’s decision to do away with the CFA franc, Séjourné said that future of the African currency depends on the "sovereign right" of African states.“It's not up to France to have a position on the matter,” the minister declared.When questioned about Russia’s growing presence in Africa, he said “every nation is free to choose whatever partnerships they want to have”, though warning that partnerships with Russia came with strings attached.“The Russians always seek compensation one way or another, either through primary resources, national resources, or they asked to be paid to provide some form of security,” he said.Séjourné said it was no longer in Paris's own "interest" to talk to Russia after differing accounts emerged from a rare phone call about last month's deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall."It is not in our interest currently to hold discussions with Russian officials because the statements and the summaries issued about them are lies.”Click on the video player to watch the full interview.

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• Thai PM Srettha Thavisin believes in a 'more democratic' future for Thailand

  Srettha Thavisin became Thailand’s prime minister in August 2023, putting an end to nine years of the country’s military dominating its politics. In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, the businessman-turned-politician said he "truly believes" the future of Thailand will be more democratic.  Will the future of Thailand be more democratic than the past? "Yes I truly believe [so]," the Thai premier told FRANCE 24 in the northern city of Chiang Mai.Thavisin is the country's first civilian prime minister in nine years. The army's coup in 2014 overthrew the democratically elected government at the time. "I can't worry for things I have no control [of]," he replied when asked about the risk of another coup. "My goal is clearly to make the lives of the Thai people better."Turning to the conflict in neighbouring Myanmar, Thavisin asserted that "at the moment", it "hasn't reached the point where there is a full civil war"."The first word we should discuss is humanitarian assistance," he added. "If there are people who need help, then we will help them."The Thai premier also spoke about a "four-eyes meeting" with French President Emmanuel Macron on March 11, in which the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine. "I think he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) wouldn't dare to invade other nations," Thavisin said.

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• IOC 'extremely confident' about Paris Olympics, executive director says

  In exactly 200 days from now, the Olympic Games will be taking over Paris. There are promises of sporting glory, but security and logistical challenges are already raising a number of concerns, especially over the ambitious opening ceremony on the River Seine. FRANCE 24's James Vasina spoke to Christophe Dubi, the Olympic Games Executive Director at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who sounded an optimistic note. "We feel extremely confident," Dubi said in an interview from Lausanne, Switzerland. "These games are incredibly well-designed and delivered," he added.

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• The Business of Fashion: Imran Amed on how his company covers an evolving industry

  In this edition of the FRANCE 24 Interview, Delano D'Souza sits down with Imran Amed, founder and CEO of The Business of Fashion. Amed opens up about his company, the industry at large and the importance of greater diversity at all levels of fashion.

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• Bernice King on her father: 'He tried to make the world a better place for everyone'

  Dr Bernice Albertine King is the youngest daughter of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. She is the CEO of The King Center. FRANCE 24 went to meet her to talk about her father's struggle and the march on Washington 60 years ago, during which Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech on August 28, 1963. Bernice explains that it took courage for her father to make such a speech, as it represented a threat to the existing order. She also reminds us how, in the speech, he gave a global vision of the world in which we could coexist as a family, as a community, in peace, in justice, in freedom and in equality.

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