Speaking in Addis Ababa after a meeting with African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Macron said the African Union is the legitimate body to coordinate solutions for Africa’s problems.
During his first visit to the AU headquarters, Macron reaffirmed France’s support for African-led mediation and peace efforts. He also announced that Paris will host an international conference later this year aimed at raising more funds for the AU Peace Fund, which supports peacekeeping operations across Africa.
The discussions focused heavily on conflict resolution and regional security, with AU leaders emphasizing the need for stronger African leadership in managing crises. Macron also called for full implementation of a 2023 UN resolution that allows UN member states to help finance AU peace missions.
Throughout his five-day Africa tour, which included visits to Egypt, Kenya, and Ethiopia, Macron said Africa should strengthen its own peacekeeping and mediation capacity while international partners like France provide support without taking control.
