French President Emmanuel Macron officially welcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the presidential palace in Paris on Friday, kicking off a three-day official visit aimed at deepening ties between the two nations.
The bilateral talks are set to center on bolstering economic, political, and strategic cooperation. The two leaders will also address global challenges and regional security matters, specifically focusing on conflicts across the African continent.
This high-profile visit comes on the heels of South Africa’s recent removal from the guest list for the G7 summit in Évian. While the South African presidency initially attributed the exclusion to “sustained pressure from the United States”, Ramaphosa later clarified that this claim was incorrect.
The Élysée Palace emphasized that this weekend’s visit is designed to reinforce the enduring partnership between France and South Africa. Beyond his meetings with Macron, Ramaphosa is scheduled to connect with French business executives and co-chair an education-focused discussion at UNESCO.
To conclude his trip on Sunday, the South African president will attend a memorial service marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood in northern France, honoring the more than 2,500 South African soldiers who lost their lives there.
