French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Egypt’s northern city of Alexandria on Saturday at the start of an African tour that also includes stops in Kenya and Ethiopia.
The tour comes after a string of setbacks for France in parts of Africa where it has long held sway.
Egyptian state media reported that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received Macron upon his arrival in Alexandria, and the two leaders are set to inaugurate the new campus of Senghor University in the city of Borg El Arab.
Earlier on Saturday, the Egyptian presidency said Sisi would attend the opening ceremony alongside Macron and several African officials.
Founded in Alexandria in 1990, the Senghor University is one of the main institutions affiliated with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
Named after Senegalese poet and former president Leopold Senghor, the university offers specialized master’s programs in development, health, environment, culture, administration and education aimed at training African professionals.
According to the Elysee Palace, Macron’s visit to Alexandria is intended to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The two leaders are also expected to visit the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, which was built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria.
Macron will travel to Nairobi on Sunday for talks with Kenyan President William Ruto, and several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed between companies from both countries.
On Monday and Tuesday, Macron and Ruto will co-chair the “Africa Forward” summit, the first African leaders’ summit attended by Macron since taking office in 2017, according to the French presidency.
The French president will conclude his tour on Wednesday in Addis Ababa, where he is set to meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and attend a meeting at the headquarters of the African Union focused on strengthening joint responses to peace and security issues.
