French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Madagascar on Wednesday for a two-day state visit aimed at revitalizing France’s strategic and diplomatic engagement in the Indian Ocean region, as the country recalibrates its foreign policy following waning influence in West Africa and the Sahel.
Macron is the first French head of state to visit the former colony since Jacques Chirac’s trip in 2005. His visit underscores a broader push by Paris to deepen economic and political ties with East and Southern African nations — particularly those with historic and linguistic ties to France.
With a population nearing 30 million, Madagascar remains one of the largest French-speaking nations in the Indian Ocean and a key geopolitical player in the region. France maintains military, economic, and cultural interests in the country, and Madagascar has become increasingly significant in France’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
During his visit, President Macron is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Malagasy counterpart, President Andry Rajoelina. The two leaders are expected to sign several cooperation agreements, particularly in the fields of infrastructure development, climate resilience, education, and trade. Macron will also meet local business leaders and French expatriates, with a focus on investment and economic partnership.
However, the trip is not without its sensitive issues. One major point of tension is the long-standing territorial dispute over the Scattered Islands (Îles Éparses) — a group of small, resource-rich islands in the Mozambique Channel that have remained under French control since Madagascar gained independence in 1960. Antananarivo has repeatedly called for the return of the islands, citing sovereignty and natural resource rights, while France has so far refused to relinquish control.
The French presidency confirmed that the issue would be “discussed” during Macron’s visit, although no formal resolution is expected at this stage. The dispute has provoked nationalistic sentiment among many Malagasy citizens, some of whom have called for public protests urging Paris to cede control of the archipelago.
In an attempt to ease tensions, Macron pledged to accelerate the process of returning stolen cultural artifacts taken during the colonial period. French authorities have already begun repatriating artifacts to several African nations as part of a broader reconciliation effort, and Macron indicated that Madagascar will be among the next beneficiaries of this initiative.
Analysts say Macron’s visit could help reset bilateral ties and pave the way for greater cooperation — but only if France is seen as genuinely addressing longstanding grievances and treating Madagascar as a sovereign equal. The visit continues Thursday with a tour of French development projects and meetings with youth and civil society groups, before Macron departs for Mauritius, the next stop on his regional tour.
