French President Emmanuel Macron will begin a three-day visit to Cairo on Sunday, marking his twelfth meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi since taking office in 2017. The visit comes at a tense time in the region and is expected to address pressing regional conflicts, economic cooperation, and human rights.

According to the Élysée Palace, the leaders will focus on regional crises including Syria, Libya, Sudan, and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The conflict in Gaza, where more than 50,000 people have been killed following Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, is expected to dominate the agenda. That attack by Hamas—classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, US, Germany, and several Arab states—left over 1,200 Israelis dead and more than 200 taken hostage.

“We will talk about a ceasefire and a possible end to the war,” said a spokeswoman for the Élysée. She added that France hopes to strengthen its strategic partnership with Egypt, similar to Egypt’s existing cooperation with the European Union.

While the official focus of the trip is economic cooperation, Macron is under pressure from activists to address Egypt’s human rights record. Amnesty International has urged the French president to speak out against “systematic repression” in Egypt, calling for the release of political prisoners and free, democratic parliamentary elections scheduled for August.

Despite the controversy, France continues to maintain strong ties with Egypt. The North African nation is one of the largest importers of French military equipment and was the first to purchase 24 French Rafale fighter jets in 2015, a deal that paved the way for further exports. France’s strategic interest in the region has deep historical roots, tracing back to Charles de Gaulle’s balanced Middle East policy.

“France has long played a pioneering role in its relations with the Arab world,” said Ahmed El Keiy, director of the consultancy AEK Conseil. “These ties are respected, particularly in Egypt.”

Macron’s visit also takes place amid a shifting global landscape, with analysts noting that France is stepping into a more prominent international role as the United States appears less engaged and Germany is preoccupied with domestic politics.

“Macron is using the power vacuum to position himself as a key voice in global diplomacy,” said Fawaz Gerges, professor at the London School of Economics. “And Egypt, with its 110 million citizens and strategic location, is a key regional player.”

The visit also follows a recent Arab League summit in Cairo, where a plan was announced to rebuild Gaza over five to seven years, with administration handed to the Palestinian Authority. France has backed the Arab plan, rejecting earlier proposals from the U.S. under Donald Trump to relocate Palestinians.

France and Saudi Arabia are expected to co-host a conference on the two-state solution in June. Observers like journalist Khaled Saad Zaghloul believe the Cairo visit could prove pivotal.

“France, the EU and Egypt must build up pressure to finally put an end to the war,” Zaghloul said.

The Élysée has confirmed that the topic of human rights will be “mentioned” during the visit, but rights groups argue more is needed.

“Macron should go further than a mention,” said Lena Collette of Amnesty International. “He must demand real action.”

As Macron arrives in Cairo, the world watches closely—hoping the visit will lead not only to strengthened partnerships but also steps toward peace in a region desperate for stability.