By French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu Thursday for a historic state visit, marking France’s strategic pivot toward English-speaking Africa as its influence wanes in former colonies.
The two-day visit, the first by a Nigerian leader in more than 20 years, began at the Invalides memorial complex where both national anthems echoed through the courtyard. The summit aims to strengthen economic partnerships with Africa’s most populous nation as France seeks to counter recent diplomatic setbacks in the Sahel region.
France has lost ground in former colonies Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where military coups since 2020 led to breaks with Paris and shifts toward Moscow. The three Sahel nations, battling jihadist violence since 2012, have rejected their former colonial ruler in favor of Russian alignment.
Nigeria, the continent’s leading oil producer and home to 220 million people, represents a crucial opportunity for French influence despite challenges of insecurity and corruption that have left more than half its population below the poverty line. The country was France’s top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, ahead of South Africa.
“France’s leading trading partners in Africa are not French-speaking,” noted Togolese economist Kako Nubukpo. According to Alain Antil, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, France maintains significant influence despite competition from China, India, and Turkey, particularly in English-speaking countries where it “is not held back by its colonial past.”
The Nigerian delegation seeks partnerships in “agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement, innovation and energy transition,” Tinubu’s office said. A diplomatic source, speaking anonymously, emphasized that Nigeria “wants a partnership of equals, not a lecture.”
Macron’s outreach to anglophone Africa, including previous visits to Nigeria, South Africa, and Ethiopia, reflects his broader strategy to renew French-African relations ahead of the 2026 Africa-France Summit. Paris sees particular opportunities in Kenya and Zambia as Africa’s rapid urbanization – projected to add 700 million city dwellers by 2050 – drives demand for foreign investment.
