Ofure Akhigbe
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday began a multi-nation tour of Africa with a landmark stop in Mauritius — the first visit by a French president to the island nation since 1993.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam described the visit as “significantly important,” noting that small island developing states are increasingly vulnerable to disruptions in the global economic order.
Macron’s trip, previously scheduled for April but postponed following the death of Pope Francis, will focus heavily on environmental cooperation. Mauritius, a former French colony near the French territory of Réunion, plays a key role in regional ocean protection efforts.
At a joint press conference, Macron also expressed support for Madagascar, where the military took control in October after weeks of deadly protests. He said France would back the country’s planned two-year transition toward democratic elections, prioritising economic development.
During his regional tour, Macron is also expected to attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg, visit Gabon, and participate in the African Union–European Union summit in Angola.