Addis Ababa, May 13, 2026 —French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the early hours of the afternoon for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
Upon his arrival at Bole International Airport, Macron was warmly received by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who welcomed him in a message shared on social media.
“My brother Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France, it is always a pleasure to welcome you back to Ethiopia, and on your third official visit, France’s friendship with our nation speaks for itself. As we look ahead to meaningful conversations, one thing is certain—the ties that bind Ethiopia and France only grow stronger, he visits marks Macron’s third official trip to Ethiopia, underscoring ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in areas including development, regional stability, investment, and cultural exchange.
The French leader’s arrival highlights the continued expansion of Ethiopia–France relations at a time when both countries are seeking deeper collaboration on economic and geopolitical priorities in the region.
Trump–Xi summit: Donald Trump is in Beijing meeting Xi Jinping, with talks centering on Taiwan, Iran, and trade. Analysts describe the meeting as a high-stakes showdown between superpowers.
Iran conflict: The Pentagon estimates the war with Iran has cost nearly $30 billion. Ceasefire proposals are faltering, with Trump calling Iran’s peace offer “garbage.”
Russia missile test: Vladimir Putin announced deployment of the “Satan II” nuclear missile this year, calling it the most powerful in the world.
Israel strikes: Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed 13 people, including paramedics, raising regional tensions.
Inflation rise: Inflation climbed to 3.8% in April, ending a three-year period where wages outpaced price increases. Rising energy costs are hitting households hard.
Baltimore bridge collapse: Two foreign companies and a supervisor have been indicted over the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse that killed six people.
NBA tragedy: Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke was found dead at age 29, reportedly from a possible overdose.
FBI controversy: FBI Director Kash Patel clashed with lawmakers during Senate testimony, facing allegations of misconduct.
Macron visit: Emmanuel Macron arrived today for talks with Abiy Ahmed, focusing on cooperation in development, investment, and cultural exchange.
US–Ethiopia reset: Washington and Addis Ababa launched new bilateral consultations, signaling a strategic reset amid Red Sea tensions.
Visa expansion: Visa opened a new office in Addis Ababa, strengthening its role in Ethiopia’s financial services sector and regional digital payments.
Education partnership: Ethiopia and Cyprus agreed to expand cooperation in higher education and cultural exchanges, aiming to improve education quality and tackle youth unemployment.
Ethiopia faces mounting pressure from Sudan’s war, with accusations from Khartoum that Addis Ababa is becoming a direct player in the conflict.
Rising cost of living in Ethiopia is worsened by global oil shocks, making economic reforms urgent.
French president Emmanuel Macron announced plans for 23 billion euros in investment in African energy, infrastructure, and AI during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, today.
The investment, which Macron told attendees would create a quarter of a million jobs in Africa and France, will reportedly be coming from public and private French firms (14 billion euros) and from African investors (nine billion euros). Among them is French shipping giant CMA CGM, which announced it would be injecting 700 million euros into a port revitalization project in Mombasa.
Macron also called on African business leaders to invest in French businesses.
Africa Forward is the first France-led summit in an English-speaking African nation, and comes as France faces growing strain in its relations with Francophone countries in West and Central Africa.
