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The mineral-rich central African nation is a major food producer
for the region and Macron's delegation will seek investment
opportunities in the agricultural sector.
He will meet Cameroon's President Paul Biya in the capital
Yaounde, as well as the French community and civil society
representatives.
Many African nations are facing food and energy security issues
due to their dependence on Russian grain and energy, but they
also buy Ukrainian grain that has been disrupted by the
conflict.
African governments have largely avoided taking sides and
refused to join Western condemnation and sanctions over Russia's
behaviour.
But anti-French sentiment is rising in France's former West
African colonies, where security concerns and political
instability following a string of coups are stoking frustration
and swinging public opinion in favour of Russia.
The trip - Macron's first in Africa since his re-election in
April - coincides with visits by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov and U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer
to different countries across the continent.
Cameroon is grappling with sharp increases in prices for oil,
fertiliser and foodstuffs. Severe fuel shortages hit the capital
Yaounde last week leading to long queues at petrol stations.
The country is also battling Boko Haram insurgents in the north
near the Nigerian border, while English-speaking separatists in
two Anglophone regions in the west have taken up arms against
the government since 2017.
Macron will head to Benin on Wednesday and Guinea-Bissau on
Thursday.
(Reporting by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bate Felix and
Alison Williams)
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