French President Emmanuel Macron may invite President Cyril Ramaphosa for a state visit.

• French President Emmanuel Macron may invite President Cyril Ramaphosa for a state visit after SA was disinvited from the G7 Summit.
• The Africa Forward summit, co-hosted by France and Kenya, will occur on 11 and 12 May in Nairobi.
• France supports South Africa’s full participation in the G20, despite recent diplomatic tensions with the US.

Whether or not President Cyril Ramaphosa will head to France for a state visit rests with the leaders of the two countries, French ambassador to South Africa David Martinon has emphasised.

Martinon held a press briefing in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, ahead of the Africa Forward summit, co-organised by France and Kenya on 11 and 12 May in Nairobi, Kenya.

The summit is titled “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth”.

Martinon’s comments come after News24 reported that French President Emmanuel Macron wanted to invite Ramaphosa for a state visit after Ramaphosa was disinvited from the G7 Summit in June.

News24 understands that the invitation to the Elysee Palace, which had yet to be extended formally, was the second gesture from Paris at diplomatic damage control after retracting Ramaphosa’s invitation to the G7 Summit last month.

READ | Macron wants to invite Ramaphosa for state visit after G7 snub

The invitation, which had been extended at last year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit, was retracted after the US threatened to boycott the gathering if Ramaphosa remained on the guest list.

Martinon said: “When it comes to [a state visit], it is in the hands of the two presidencies to evoke that kind of protocol visit.”

The ambassador reiterated his country’s position on South Africa’s participation in the G20.

The presidency of the forum is currently held by the United States.

He added:

This was in reference to the US’ move to withhold South African Sherpa Zane Dangor’s invitation to a meeting of Sherpas from member nations in Washington.