French President Emmanuel Macron participated in a marathon through Khalid bin Al-Waleed Street—one of Alexandria’s most prominent and historic thoroughfares—on Sunday morning.
The appearance sparked a wave of celebration from Alexandrian citizens across social media. Video footage captured Macron alongside several officials jogging through the city’s streets.
The French President is currently visiting Egypt, where he joined President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday to inaugurate the new Senghor University campus.
Macron’s marathon is a “priceless” tourism promotion
Sarah El-Nahhas, a member of the House of Representatives for Alexandria, stated that the marathon run by Macron on Khaled bin Walid Street serves as an extraordinary tourism advertisement. She emphasized that this moment captures Egypt’s status as a land of security and peace, urging the state to capitalize on this footage for a more powerful international marketing campaign.
El-Nahhas stated that Egypt remains steadfast in its historical status and future trajectory. She noted that the French President’s visit—which included inaugurating the new 10-acre campus of Senghor University, visiting Qaitbay Citadel, and running through a popular local street without heavy security—underscores Egypt’s international weight and reflects its true political and diplomatic standing.
She called on the Ministry of Tourism to leverage these scenes to showcase Egypt’s safety to the world, noting that such spontaneous public appearances are rare globally.
Historical Roots and Soft Power
Ahmed Wahban, Professor of Political Science at Alexandria University, highlighted that Egyptian-French relations are deeply rooted in modern history. These ties date back to the era of Muhammad Ali Pasha, who sent educational missions to France featuring figures like Rifa’a al-Tahtawi and Ali Mubarak, who returned to blend French culture with modern science in Egypt.
Wahban explained that diplomatic ties strengthened significantly under French leader Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s, noting France’s historical sympathy for the Palestinian cause and its tendency to maintain a stance independent of American bias toward the Zionist entity. He added that both nations are pillars of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
He described Senghor University as a major addition to Egypt’s “soft power,” as students from across the Francophone world return to their home countries as ambassadors of Egyptian civilization and culture.
A strategic turning point
Mohammed Mahmoud Mehran, Professor of International Public Law, characterized Macron’s visit as a strategic turning point. He stated it reflects a growing European realization that Egypt is an indispensable pivotal player in regional stability equations.
Mehran emphasized that bilateral relations are witnessing a notable evolution in security and military fields. He pointed out that France is a primary arms supplier to Egypt—providing Rafale fighters, frigates, and submarines—which reflects mutual strategic trust.
He concluded by noting that Alexandria has historically served as a symbol of multiculturalism, and that Senghor University—having graduated 4,200 students from 43 countries since 1990—stands as a successful model for multilateral international cooperation in service of African development.
