Europe isn't the only continent watching closely to see how France's presidential election plays out. On April 23, 11 candidates will battle it out for the country's highest office, though according to most polls four contenders have a clear lead over the rest: centrist Emmanuel Macron, center-right Francois Fillon, far-right Marine Le Pen and far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon. Who wins the first round of the presidential race could have sweeping consequences for the European Union, to be sure. But Francophone Africa, still tightly linked to its former metropole, will also be following the vote carefully for signs of what the next leader in Paris will bring to the table.

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