By Rodrigue Fenelon, great reporter.
Emmanuel Macron is conducting a strategic visit to Egypt on January 27, 2019, where he will meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi.
Four ministers accompany the head of the French state on this trip: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces, Franck Riester, Minister of Culture and Gérald Darmanin, Minister of Public Accounts. The reasons for this lightning visit are the subject of speculation from Kinshasa to Bangui.
Paris would seek to preserve its influence in Africa where Beijing, Moscow and Washington are gaining ground. Hence the recourse to the old ally of the Mediterranean and the North of the African continent.
According to our sources, this geopolitical visit has the cardinal point of consolidating a strategic relationship. Egypt remains for Paris a key diplomatic partner on regional issues, particularly on Libya and on security and the fight against terrorism.
The country of the pharaohs will also take the lead of the African Union from February 8th. The visit of Emmanuel Macron is therefore timely to address all these topics with his counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. The French president should also publicly discuss the situation of human rights according to one of our sources at the Elysee.
It is easy to imagine the grievances and hidden priorities that should be adopted by the future President-in-Office of the AU in exchange for military equipment promised at preferential prices. Financial Afrik will deliver in its next issue the hidden benefits of this strategic move.
