French President Emmanuel Macron launched his African tour on Thursday with a stop in Mauritius, marking the first visit by a French head of state to the island nation since 1993.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam welcomed Macron, calling the visit “significant” and stressing the challenges small island states face in the global economy. “We risk ending up in a system where ambitions generated elsewhere stir up the global economic order. We, small island developing states, are the first to feel the negative effects of this disorder,” Ramgoolam said.
Macron’s trip to Mauritius, a former French colony closely linked to France through its proximity to Réunion, will center on environmental cooperation. The island of 1.2 million people, known for its high living standards, plays a key role in regional ocean protection efforts.
The visit had originally been scheduled for April but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis.
At a press conference, Macron also voiced support for Madagascar, where the military seized power in October after weeks of deadly protests. The transitional government has pledged to hold elections within two years.
“France will support this transition with openness and respect for the priorities of the Malagasy people, particularly regarding economic development,” Macron said.
Macron’s African tour will continue with appearances at the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, a visit to Gabon, and participation in the African Union-European Union summit in Angola.
