French President Emmanuel Macron concluded a high-stakes tour of East Africa on Wednesday, leaving Ethiopia with a pledge to dismantle "historical injustices" in global governance and a massive $27 billion investment roadmap for the continent.

The visit, which included stops in Egypt and Kenya, signaled a decisive shift in French foreign policy toward Africa’s most dynamic Anglophone and strategic economies. In his final meeting in Addis Ababa, Macron joined Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres to address the continent’s standing on the world stage.

During the talks at the African Union headquarters, Macron issued his most forceful call yet for a permanent African seat on the United Nations Security Council. He argued that the current international framework, largely unchanged since 1945, suffers from a lack of "geographical reality" and legitimacy.

"Africa is not asking for a favor; it is demanding the correction of an injustice," said Chairperson Youssouf, echoing the unified African position. Macron’s endorsement of permanent representation for Africa is seen as a strategic move to bolster France’s credibility as a partner of equals, especially as its traditional influence in West Africa faces significant challenges.

The diplomatic push was backed by substantial financial commitments. Macron announced the mobilization of $27 billion (€23 billion) in public and private French investment aimed at African energy transition, digitalization, and agriculture.

The funding package—unveiled earlier during the "Africa Forward" summit in Nairobi—aims to create 250,000 jobs across both France and Africa. Macron emphasized that these investments represent a "partnership of equals" designed to counter the influence of other global powers like China and Russia.

On the bilateral front, France and Ethiopia solidified their economic ties with a new $63.9 million loan agreement. The funds are earmarked for green energy projects and the expansion of Ethiopia’s digitalization efforts, a cornerstone of Prime Minister Abiy’s economic reform agenda.

"This visit marks a new chapter in Franco-Ethiopian relations," Prime Minister Abiy stated following the signing ceremony. "It reflects a shared vision for a stable, digital, and prosperous East Africa."

The tour, which began in Alexandria with the inauguration of a new campus for Senghor University, underscores Macron’s ambition to redefine France’s continental role before his term ends in 2027. By pivoting toward Ethiopia and Kenya, Paris is betting on the economic potential of East Africa to secure its long-term relevance in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

---

Keyir Times | Reporting on the shifts in global power and the rise of the African continent.