French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed worries about the escalating civil war in Sudan and the fragile situation in Lebanon during his visit to South Africa for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. He called for a ceasefire in Sudan and urged rival generals to allow humanitarian aid. On Lebanon, he stated that sovereignty depends on Hezbollah disarming amid ongoing conflict with Israel.
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced significant concerns regarding the crises in Sudan and the Israel-Lebanon conflict while attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The summit is taking place at Nasrec and is scheduled to conclude on Sunday.
Macron highlighted that Sudan's internal strife has intensified into a full civil war. He emphasized the need for rival generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to negotiate an agreement that would enable humanitarian aid to reach those affected. "Sudan’s conflict has now escalated into a full civil war," Macron stated, underscoring the urgency of a ceasefire to address the humanitarian crisis.
Turning to Lebanon, Macron described the situation as fragile following continued fighting between Hezbollah and Israel since October 2023. He asserted that Lebanon can only restore its sovereignty if Hezbollah lays down its arms, pointing to the group's role in the ongoing tensions.
These remarks come as world leaders gather in Johannesburg to discuss global issues, with Macron praising South Africa's hosting of the event. The French president's comments reflect broader international efforts to mitigate conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, though specific outcomes from the G20 discussions on these matters remain pending.