President Bola Tinubu will travel to France for a private visit before heading to Ethiopia for the African Union summit. His Paris trip includes a meeting with President Macron, while his AU participation will address key regional issues. Previous France visits sparked debates over military ties and foreign influence in Africa.
President Bola Tinubu is set to leave Abuja on Wednesday for a private visit to Paris, France. According to Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu is expected to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron during the trip.
Following his time in Paris, Tinubu will head to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union (AU) Heads of State. The meetings, scheduled between February 12 and 16, will bring together African leaders to discuss continental issues.
This visit marks Tinubu’s second trip to France in recent months. In November, he traveled to the country for a three-day state visit, which generated debate over France’s role in Africa. Controversy arose after allegations surfaced about a possible French military base in Nigeria’s northeast, following reported engagements between Nigerian and French military officials. The Nigerian government, however, denied any such plans.
Additionally, Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, has accused France of negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilize his country—an allegation France and Nigeria have both dismissed. Macron later expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of appreciation from Sahelian leaders for France’s anti-terrorism efforts in the region.
Tinubu is expected to arrive in Addis Ababa early next week for the AU summit.
