French President Emmanuel Macron has launched a high-profile tour of four African countries, starting with Mauritius, in an effort to reassert France’s waning influence on the continent.
His visit to the Indian Ocean island nation, the first by a French president since 1993, comes amid growing resistance to French involvement in former colonies and the rise of other global powers in Africa.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam welcomed Macron, describing the visit as “highly significant” for the region. Speaking alongside the French leader, he highlighted the growing economic and political pressures facing small island states.
“Ambitions generated elsewhere risk destabilizing the global economic order. We, small island developing states, are the first to feel the negative effects,” Ramgoolam said.
Macron later met with Mauritian President Dharambeer Gakhool at State House to discuss cooperation on food security, the energy transition, and artificial intelligence (AI), reaffirming the depth of bilateral ties.
He was awarded the Most Distinguished Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean medal and visited the Caudan Arts Center, engaging with participants in the regional “AI4GOOD” competition, which promotes creative AI projects.
The tour continues with stops in South Africa for the G20 summit, Angola and Gabon to meet President Bruce Nguema, reflecting France’s push to maintain relevance amid a shifting African geopolitical landscape.
Macron’s agenda on Mauritius focuses on environmental protection, including ocean conservation, reflecting the island’s strategic importance in regional sustainability efforts. He also expressed support for Madagascar’s democratic transition, following a military takeover in October amid anti-government protests.
“France will assist in economic development and support the priorities of the Malagasy people,” Macron said.
Reviving French influence amid skepticism
In recent years, a wave of sovereignty-driven backlash has seen countries like Chad and Senegal end their defence pacts with France.
Chad terminated its 2024 agreement, handing over French military bases as it “redefines its strategic partnerships.”
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye emphasized that the move marks a “turning point in the quest for strategic autonomy,” reflecting Senegal’s push for a more equal and independent partnership.
France’s departure concluded a 65-year military presence in the country, signaling a broader trend among former colonies seeking to reduce reliance on Paris for security and defense.
The erosion of France’s presence in Africa extends beyond military ties. Senegal completed the phased handover of its last French bases in July 2025, while Sahelian nations including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have joined the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to limit foreign military influence.
Senegalese economist Ndongo Samba Sylla told AllAfrica that France’s “history of domination, arrogance and indifference” remains a major source of resentment.
France has increasingly shifted its diplomatic focus toward non-Francophone African countries, including English-speaking Nigeria and Portuguese-speaking nations such as Angola.
These countries, with expanding domestic markets, offer fresh opportunities for French businesses. Nigeria, in particular, has emerged as France’s top economic partner in sub-Saharan Africa, a status reinforced by President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris last year.
These developments highlight the challenges Macron faces in convincing African nations that France is not merely rebranding old influences, but genuinely committed to a new, partnership-based approach.
