Macron Tours East Africa as France Pushes to Redefine Its Role on the Continent
President Emmanuel Macron has begun a tour of East Africa as Paris tries to rebuild its influence on the continent after losing its military foothold in the Sahel. Investment, climate finance and port partnerships will dominate stops in Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Emmanuel Macron has begun an official tour of three East African countries with a stop in Nairobi. After military withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the French president is trying to anchor Paris's Africa policy in economics, climate and education. In Kenya, deals on renewable energy and digital infrastructure are on the table.
His second stop is Ethiopia. The African Union's Addis Ababa headquarters gives the visit a continent-wide diplomatic dimension. Macron is reported to be planning a trilateral infrastructure package with Djibouti, which Ethiopia uses for sea access. The role of Djibouti's port in Europe's Indian Ocean logistics will also be on the agenda.
The challenge for France is clear. With Wagner and Chinese influence growing in the Sahel, East Africa is becoming a new pivot for Europe. Officials at the Élysée expect more than €2 billion in deals to be signed during the tour. Local civil society groups, however, are asking whether this trip really marks a lasting break from post-colonial rhetoric.
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