French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes South African counterpart Ramaphosa at Elysee Palace

(10 Jul 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paris, France - 10 July 2026
1. Various of French President Emmanuel Macron waiting outside the Élysée Palace to welcome South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
2. Ramaphosa arriving at the palace and being greeted by Macron
3. Various of the two leaders walking together and posing for official photographs
4. Wide shot of the Élysée Palace
5. Various of the Republican Guard during the official welcome ceremony
STORYLINE:
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Élysée Palace on Friday for an official visit.

The leaders are expected to discuss ways to strengthen political, economic and strategic cooperation between France and South Africa.

The visit comes as France seeks to deepen its engagement with African partners and expand cooperation on trade, investment, energy and critical minerals.

The meeting also provides an opportunity to discuss regional security, including conflicts in Africa, and broader global issues.

According to the French presidency, the visit is intended to reinforce the longstanding partnership between the two countries.

It comes less than a month after South Africa was removed from the guest list for the G7 summit in Évian, highlighting renewed diplomatic engagement between Paris and Pretoria.

AP video shot by Eva van Dam