Emmanuel Macron  

"What is Macron's problem with Islam? What is his problem with Muslims? Macron needs mental treatment. What else can be said about a head of state who doesn't understand freedom of faith, freedom of religion and who treats millions of people of a different faith living in his country like this?" --Erdogan's of 24/10/20 broadcast by TRT World

While Emmanuel Macron was speaking at the 2017 G20 Hamburg summit, Macron was asked by a reporter from Côte d'Ivoire if there was a possibility of a policy comparable to the Marshall Plan being implemented in Africa. Macron replied saying “The problems Africa face today are completely different and are ‘civilisational’" and then went on to talk about African women having "seven or eight children per woman". The remark was received negatively on social media with people accusing Macron of racism and perpetuating stereotypes. NPR noted using World Bank statistics that Macron was wrong and African women had 5.4 children on average. However, many publications including the Scientific American, The Guardian and The Economist have previously identified a high birthrate as one of the biggest issues currently facing Africa.