Macron visits Egypt as France seeks bigger role in Africa, Middle East

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt – French President Emmanuel Macron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi used a high-profile meeting in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Saturday to reinforce a rapidly expanding strategic partnership between their countries, while also addressing mounting regional tensions, maritime security and Africa’s evolving geopolitical landscape.

Macron’s stop in Egypt marked the opening leg of a broader African tour that will also take him to Nairobi and Addis Ababa, where the French leader is expected to focus on security cooperation, economic partnerships and France’s efforts to redefine its role across the continent amid growing global competition for influence in Africa.

The French president travelled to the coastal city of Alexandria, often referred to in Egypt as the Bride of the Mediterranean, where he was received by Sisi before the two leaders inaugurated the new campus of Senghor University in New Borg El-Arab. The French-language institution, affiliated with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, is dedicated to development studies and training future African leaders.

The inauguration carried strong symbolic significance for both Cairo and Paris, reflecting their efforts to position education, cultural diplomacy and scientific cooperation at the centre of their increasingly close relationship. Macron described the project as evidence of Egypt’s “remarkable commitment to the Francophone community,” while Sisi portrayed the university as a bridge linking Africa, the Arab world and Europe.

The two presidents later toured Alexandria’s famed Corniche and visited the historic Citadel of Qaitbay, the 15th-century fortress built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, underscoring the cultural and historical dimensions of the visit.

Behind the ceremonial displays, however, discussions between the two leaders were dominated by escalating instability across the Middle East and its growing impact on international trade and global supply chains. According to the Egyptian presidency, Sisi and Macron reviewed the repercussions of regional conflicts, including the ongoing Iran war and wider tensions affecting maritime routes and commercial transport.

Sisi stressed the need to prevent further escalation in the region, warning that prolonged instability threatened not only Middle Eastern security but also global economic flows. He reiterated Egypt’s support for the security and stability of Arab states and outlined Cairo’s diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis.

Macron echoed concerns over regional instability and voiced hope for a swift resolution to ongoing conflicts. During the visit, he also promoted a French-backed proposal to establish a maritime coalition of non-belligerent states aimed at safeguarding shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has become increasingly volatile amid the confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The talks also reflected a broader deepening of Franco-Egyptian cooperation since the two countries elevated their relationship to a formal strategic partnership in 2025. Both sides highlighted expanding trade ties and French investment in Egypt, with Sisi calling for greater collaboration in sectors including transport, infrastructure, education and industry.

France remains one of Egypt’s closest European partners and among its leading investors, particularly in infrastructure and transport projects. Yet the relationship has also drawn sustained criticism from international rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which accuse Paris of prioritising economic interests, arms deals and security cooperation over concerns surrounding political freedoms and repression in Egypt.

Macron’s African tour now shifts to Kenya, where he is due to hold talks with President William Ruto and co-chair the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi. The gathering is expected to bring together African leaders and international partners to discuss economic development, climate challenges and investment opportunities across the continent.

The French president will then conclude the tour in Ethiopia, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and attend meetings at the headquarters of the African Union focused on strengthening cooperation on peace and security issues.

The trip comes at a sensitive moment for France’s standing in Africa, as Paris attempts to rebuild influence after setbacks in several West African countries where military-led governments have distanced themselves from former colonial powers and turned increasingly towards alternative international partners.

By placing Egypt, one of the Arab world’s most populous and strategically important states, at the start of his African itinerary, Macron appeared keen to underline France’s intention to strengthen alliances with regional powers capable of shaping political, economic and security dynamics across both Africa and the Middle East.