France reconnects with Africa as Macron visits Mauritius

French President Emmanuel Macron has kicked off a five-day tour of Africa, beginning in Mauritius — his first visit to the island nation since François Mitterrand’s trip in 1993.

Macron’s mission is clear: to rebuild and renew France’s partnerships with African nations at a time when its traditional influence on the continent is waning.

In Mauritius — a small but wealthy island economy in the Indian Ocean — Macron is…