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France is hosting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this weekend for high-level diplomatic talks and a historic World War I remembrance ceremony.
Ramaphosa met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday to align their strategies on international conflicts before heading north to honour fallen troops.
On Sunday, the South African leader will attend the 110th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, where hundreds of South African soldiers died during the Great War.
During their Friday session, the two presidents established a permanent annual bilateral dialogue led by their foreign ministers.
They discovered a close convergence of views on the Middle East crisis and the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Macron praised South Africa’s stabilising military presence.
They also analysed the economic fallout from shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the US-Iran war.
This diplomatic breakthrough patches up relations after South Africa claimed earlier this year that France had uninvited Ramaphosa from the G7 summit under pressure from US President Donald Trump.
France denied that claim, stating it merely restricted guest numbers to keep discussions efficient.
Macron concluded Friday by hosting a dinner honouring Ramaphosa at the Élysée Palace alongside families of anti-apartheid heroes, while Ramaphosa dedicated Saturday to courting French business leaders.
