Colombia’s Vice President Francia Marquez, who was recently on the African continent, visited Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia as part of the Africa 2022-2026 strategy, as envisaged in the National Development Plan.
During her visits, the Vice President, through the Colombian Presidential Agency for Cooperation (APC), signed important agreements with South Africa after the visit she made with the Colombian diplomatic team to Johannesburg. However, the trip was under the scrutiny of the local media with racist expressions against the vice-president, while the opposition – through social networks – has carried out a fake news campaign.
For Francia Marquez, the wave of criticism that this trip has received mainly from the opposition is due to an “attack with viciousness.” She said this because, for example, on previous occasions he has traveled to Germany or the United States, “and they have never looked at how much I have spent.”
On the other hand, for this mission, a controversy has been sparked by the cost of the fuel needed for the transfers (1.6 billion Colombian pesos). “The problem is because it is Africa.”
According to the Black vice president of Colombia, what still prevails is “a colonial vision” about Africa that does not allow to see beyond, and that is also tied to what Africa was in the 16th century.
Francia Márquez insisted that for this government, it is essential to look at Africa, because Colombia has looked at the United States, Europe and Asia, but not at this continent. “Colombia has to relate to the whole world, and Africa is part of the world.”
Francia Márquez herself indicated in a tweet recently: “Thanks to Open Society for their financial and logistical support for our high-level visit to South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia.” “We recognize your contribution to strengthening democracies in Latin America and the Caribbean and the role of ethnic communities in the face of the climate crisis.”
Open Society is one of the foundations of billionaire and influential financier George Soros, which are dedicated to different areas in addition to funding trips like the vice president’s.
The six foundations are Open Society: Open Society Institute, Foundation for an Open Society, Open Society Fund, Soros Fund Charitable Foundation, Soros Economic Development Foundation and Fund for Policy Reform.
The 92-year-old Soros has used his own fortune forged in the financial markets to promote democracy, equality and human rights around the world through the Open Society Foundations. Since 1979, Soros has supported public education and health, immigrants and refugees, social and racial minorities, as well as women’s exclusive right to reproductive health.
He has also proposed initiatives such as drug regulation and criminal law reforms in several countries to provide more alternatives to imprisonment.
