South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is in France for a three-day visit that includes a commemoration of South African soldiers who died during World War I. On Sunday, he is set to participate in an event marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, northern France, a significant site where several hundred South African troops lost their lives.

The visit follows a meeting on Friday between Ramaphosa and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. According to a French diplomatic source, the leaders found common ground on key international issues, including the ongoing crises in the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Both presidents expressed concern about security and economic disruptions in the Gulf region, particularly those linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict involving the United States and Iran.

The discussions underscored the importance of regional peace efforts in eastern DRC, a conflict zone where South Africa plays a stabilizing role. Macron and Ramaphosa agreed to formalize cooperation through an annual bilateral dialogue at the foreign minister level.

Ramaphosa’s visit comes several months after South Africa announced that he would not be attending the G7 summit in June in Evian, southern France. France has maintained it limited invitations to promote more focused discussions and denied any external pressure from the United States, despite South African officials suggesting otherwise.

On Friday evening, Macron hosted a dinner at the Élysée Palace in honor of Ramaphosa. The event also included family members of prominent figures from South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle. Ahead of the World War I commemoration, Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with French business leaders on Saturday, further emphasizing the multifaceted nature of his visit.