French President Emmanuel Macron has congratulated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for successfully hosting the first-ever G20 Summit on African soil, praising the event as a historic milestone for the continent.

“Congratulations to my dear friend Cyril Ramaphosa and his team for this G20 Summit, the first ever on the African continent. Hand in hand as we look ahead to the French G7 Presidency,”
said President Macron.

President Macron was among the world leaders who attended the landmark summit and commended President Ramaphosa for his leadership in bringing global partners together.

The European Union’s Delegation to South Africa also echoed the praise, stating:

“Thank you, Cyril Ramaphosa. You brought us all together in your beautiful country. The first G20 Summit ever held on African soil. South Africa made history…”

According to a statement shared by the French Embassy in South Africa, Presidents Ramaphosa and Macron held a private discussion covering a number of key issues, including France’s upcoming G7 Presidency, conflict dynamics in Africa’s Great Lakes region, and other bilateral matters.

During his visit, President Macron also toured Freedom Park in Pretoria, where he unveiled the names of 20 French citizens who supported the struggle against apartheid. He was welcomed by South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile and the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.

“The struggle against apartheid transcended borders and united women and men from across the world, including from France,” the embassy noted.

The honoured individuals include:
Danielle Mitterrand, Paul Vergès, Breyten Breytenbach, Jean-Paul Sartre, Frantz Fanon, Jean-Jacques de Félice, Elisabeth Mathiot, Alfred Kastler, Albert Lévy, Jacqueline Grünfeld, Charles Palant, Marcel Trigon, Maurice Cukierman, Paul Ricoeur, Marie-José Moumbaris, Henri Curiel, François Moncla, Aimé Césaire, Eve Hall, and Claude Bourdet.