Paris pushes Africa reset as French leader visits Madagascar

This visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Madagascar is part of France’s broader initiative to rebuild its influence in Africa, following its diminished presence in several former colonies.

Following its prior expulsion from several former African colonies, including Gabon, Chad, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, by both military juntas and democratic governments, France is seeking to bolster its influence in Africa amid growing pressure.

Macron’s trip marks the first state visit by a French leader to the former colony off East Africa’s coast since 2005.

After talks with Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, in Antananarivo, the nation’s capital, Macron called for a “partnership” between both countries regarding strategic rare earth minerals essential for renewable energy, leveraging Madagascar’s extensive reserves.

He further announced that the French Development Agency (AFD) will support the construction of the Volobe hydropower dam in eastern Madagascar, financed by a loan from the French Treasury.

The two nations signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding, covering energy, agriculture, digital technology, infrastructure, tourism, and education.

Additionally, they addressed colonial-era disputes, including Madagascar’s claims over a group of small islands under French territory and its request for the repatriation of a local king’s remains, who was killed by French colonial forces in the 19th century.

Macron’s visit to Madagascar comes as France navigates challenges to its sovereignty over certain Indian Ocean territories, while also facing growing influence from China and Russia in the region.

Macron’s visit to Madagascar comes as France navigates challenges to its influence in Africa, particularly in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military-led governments have severed traditional ties and expelled French forces.

France’s diminishing influence is driven not only by a resurgence of Pan-African sentiment and anti-colonial rhetoric, but also by the growing presence of alternative powers such as Russia, China, and Turkey.

In contrast, Macron’s trip to Madagascar—a country still diplomatically aligned with France—represents a more measured engagement, one aimed at preserving strategic footholds as broader regional dynamics shift.

Against this backdrop, France is working to rebuild its relationships and assert its presence in the Indian Ocean area, with Madagascar being a key focus.