French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed France’s support for African-led responses to political and security challenges across the continent during a high-level meeting at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa. Speaking after a trilateral meeting with AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Macron said Africa must remain at the forefront of resolving its own crises. “We believe that African problems must first and foremost be resolved and coordinated by Africa,” Macron stated, describing the AU as the continent’s “legitimate body” for mediation and conflict resolution.
The visit marked Macron’s first appearance at the AU headquarters and formed part of a five-day African tour that began in Egypt and also took him to Kenya for the Africa Forward summit. Security and peacekeeping dominated the discussions, with Youssouf highlighting France’s role within the UN Security Council in supporting stability efforts in conflict-prone regions. “We spoke at length about issues of peace and security, and about how France contributes to stabilising certain hotspots of tension,” Youssouf said.
Macron also announced that Paris will host an international conference later this year aimed at mobilising more funding for the AU Peace Fund. The fund, established in 1993 and revived in 2018, reportedly raised about $400 million in 2024 to support African peace operations. The French leader further called for the full implementation of UN Resolution 2719, adopted in 2023, which allows United Nations member states to finance African Union-led peace missions through mandatory contributions. Throughout his tour, Macron stressed the importance of strengthening Africa’s peacekeeping capacity and mediation systems while ensuring African institutions continue to lead decision-making on regional conflicts. Before the AU meeting, Macron held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in what analysts see as part of France’s broader effort to redefine its partnership with African nations.
