Macron cancels planned visit to Nigeria and Senegal amid domestic unrest

The French government has announced the official cancellation of President Emmanuel Macron's planned visit to Nigeria and Senegal.

• The French government has cancelled President Emmanuel Macron's planned visit to Nigeria and Senegal.
• The visit was part of France's effort to revive its historic ties with West Africa after losing connections with the Sahel states.
• Nigeria and Senegal were chosen as key destinations for this diplomatic mission.
• The cancellation was due to ongoing social unrest in France, prompting Macron to focus on domestic matters.

The move comes as France seeks to rebuild its historic ties with West Africa after relations deteriorated with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The planned visits to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, and Senegal, a French-speaking West African country, were seen as part of France’s effort to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties across the region.

The visit, which had been slated for October, was cancelled due to a wave of social unrest at home. President Macron has reportedly decided to channel his energy and focus on domestic issues.

No further information was provided by the French government on when the visit might be rescheduled.

Diplomatic momentum grows between France, Nigeria, and Benin

The postponement of the official trip is not an indication of a rift, as West African leaders have taken direct steps to maintain high-level dialogue with Paris.

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria met French President Emmanuel Macron for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in September 2026 to reinforce bilateral ties.

Following the encounter, Tinubu stated on X that it was "a pleasure to share a private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron," revealing their shared commitment toward "deepening cooperation and building a mutually beneficial partnership".

According to The Rio Times, presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga added that the visit demonstrated "the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France".

Shortly after, Benin's newly elected President Romuald Wadagni also traveled to Paris in October 2026 for his first official visit to meet Macron.

The meeting took place alongside business leaders at the Africa-France Impact Coalition dinner.

As reported by Business Insider Africa, Macron praised the ties between both nations, describing the partnership as a "relationship of 'friendship, trust, and ambition' and 'a relationship between equals."