The president had engaged in a recent flurry of international activities attending the Paris Olympics opening ceremony in July; speaking at the 80th anniversary of Débarquement de Provence commemorating African soldiers' First World War contribution in the south of France alongside President Emmanuel Macron in August; then shuttling to Beijing...

While Fillon was campaigning for the presidency in 2017 and making much of his clean hands Bourgi told the media that he had bought two expensive suits for him which was enough to finish him off and clear the field for Emmanuel Macron's bid for the top job...

After French President Emmanuel Macron's ‘personal envoy' to Africa Jean-Marie Bockel visited Libreville in March and discussed the reduction of France's 350-strong military contingent Gabon launched a charm offensive towards Paris (AC Vol 65 No 19 President Macron plans military cuts)...

President Emmanuel Macron has been weighing up the recommendations from Jean-Marie Bockel – a former development and defence junior minister whom he appointed in February as his special envoy to Gabon Senegal Côte d'Ivoire and Chad which all host French bases (AC Vol 65 No 16 Moscow sees a year of transition)...

President Emmanuel Macron was quick to congratulate Faye as soon as his election victory was confirmed...

On 30 July Moroccan state news agency Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) gleefully reproduced a letter in which President Emmanuel Macron told Moroccan King Mohammed VI (M6) that ‘autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved' and was ‘the only basis for reaching an agreement' on the former Spanish colony...

France is bullish ‘we have to stay of course we will stay' said Jean-Marie Bockel President Emmanuel Macron's personal envoy on whether France will maintain its 1 000 troops in the country...