Macron's Tweet Sparks Controversy in Sudan Over Southern Map
A tweet posted by French President Emmanuel Macron on his X account has sparked widespread controversy among Sudanese people after he attached an old map that depicted Sudan as a single country including South Sudan, according to the borders before July 9, 2011.
In comments on the map, some commentators noted that this is not the first time Macron has used the old map, while others reshared the tweet accompanied by laughing emojis, amidst significant astonishment on social media platforms.
However, the map itself did not name Sudan explicitly and was merely a general representation of maritime corridors in the Middle East and East Africa, as clarified by Macron, who emphasized that the aim of the post is to bolster France's efforts to build a coalition "that seeks by all means, including military, to resume and secure navigation in these vital maritime corridors for the global economy."
In a related context, Macron announced that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its accompanying aircraft and frigates were sent to sail in the Mediterranean Sea, on the fourth day of escalating regional war between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other, amidst international fears of the conflict's expansion and its impact on shipping routes, particularly the vital Strait of Hormuz.
This comes at a sensitive time, as countries are anticipating the repercussions of the recent war on global maritime security, amid unprecedented tensions threatening the stability of navigation and energy in the region.
