President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook an official visit to France from 10 to 12 July 2026. The visit was scheduled to hold discussions with host President Emmanuel Macron and bilateral engagements between senior officials of both governments.
The visit began on 10 July at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. At the invitation of UNESCO Director-General Professor Khaled El-Enany, President Ramaphosa co-chaired the Leaders’ Meeting of the UNESCO High-Level Steering Committee on Sustainable Development Goal 4, which concerns quality education. The meeting was expected to give strategic direction on strengthening resilient education systems and to endorse education priorities for the 2026–2027 period. The discussion centred on the teaching profession, foundational and lifelong learning, digital transformation, and sustainable financing for education.
Following this, President Ramaphosa took part in the Transforming Education Summit +4 Stocktake, convened jointly by UNESCO and the United Nations to review progress made since the original 2022 Transforming Education Summit and to identify further steps needed to meet SDG 4 by 2030. South Africa’s participation was intended to reinforce its commitment to strengthening education systems and to align this work with priorities from South Africa’s G20 Presidency. In his speech, delivered and quoted on X, he states: “Education builds. It unlocks human potential. It dismantles ignorance. Every classroom and every lesson empowers the individual to transform not only their own lives but also their communities, their societies, and their countries.”
Later on 10 July, President Ramaphosa met President Macron and attended a dinner hosted in his honour. The French Embassy in South Africa noted on X that the bilateral meeting was intended to address France–South Africa relations as well as pressing global issues, and that it would be followed by an official dinner.
On Saturday, 11 July, President Ramaphosa held discussions with French business leaders. As part of these engagements, he met representatives of French companies operating in South Africa, including a meeting with a senior Air Liquide executive responsible for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India, held on the margins of the visit. The discussions largely covered bilateral trade and cooperation between the two countries, spanning energy, science and technology, defence, trade and investment, arts and culture, tourism, higher education, and health.
On Sunday, 12 July, President Ramaphosa travelled to Longueval in northern France for the 110th Commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood, held at the South African National Memorial. The battle, fought in July 1916, was one of the most significant engagements involving South African forces during the First World War. The ceremony included the laying of wreaths in memory of those who died, along with the unveiling of a UNESCO plaque recognising the memorial’s historical significance.
President Ramaphosa was accompanied by First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean MacPherson, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton Macpherson (McKenzie), and the Minister of Higher Education and Training, along with other senior officials.
