French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Addis Ababa on December 20 for an official visit, where he was warmly received at Bole International Airport by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. In a message shared on social media, Abiy referred to Macron as “a brother and good friend of Ethiopia” and highlighted that this marks the French President’s second visit in six years.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister emphasized the growing ties between the two nations, stating, “The ties between our two nations continue to be strengthened, and I look forward to our discussions during his stay in Ethiopia.” Macron’s visit is expected to focus on enhancing economic cooperation, regional stability, and reinforcing the long-standing partnership between France and Ethiopia per statement.
Macron Visits Djibouti, France’s Key African Base
After his visit to Ethiopia, Macron is expected to travel to Djibouti to meet French troops stationed at the country’s strategic base. Located at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti serves as a vital hub for international trade and France’s military operations in the region.
With France’s military influence significantly reduced across Africa—following withdrawals and expelsion from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger between 2022 and 2023, and recent downsizing in Chad, Senegal, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire—Djibouti remains France’s most critical operational base on the continent.
This visit is part of Macron’s annual tradition to spend Christmas with French troops deployed abroad, a practice he has followed since his election in 2017, except during the Covid years in 2020 and 2021. The visit underscores the strategic importance of Djibouti in France’s defense framework and its broader geopolitical interests in the region.