French President Macron in 2-day visit to Madagascar to boost bilateral ties

President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day visit to Madagascar on Wednesday, marking the first official trip by a French president to the former colony since Jacques Chirac in 2005. The visit aims to reinforce bilateral relations and solidify France’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean, despite lingering tensions related to the colonial past. Paul Melly, a consulting fellow with the Africa Programme at Chatham House, provides context on the significance of the visit.