France offers citizenship to Malian immigrant who scaled building to save child

Macron, who had been criticised by left-wing voters for taking a tougher stance on immigration since his election, may also have sought to send a message to Socialist voters by signalling a more welcoming attitude to a deserving migrant.

Gassama told Macron he tried to cross the Mediterranean in March 2014 to reach Italy, but was caught by police.

Europe has faced a migrant crisis since 2015 following wars in Libya and Syria and more than 1 million people from Africa and the Middle East have tried to reach the continent via Turkeyor by sea.

Macron's government has said it wants to be both firm and fair on immigration but it took a tougher stance lately, with parliament approving a bill that tightens asylum rules.

"What you have done corresponds with what firefighters do;if this fits your wishes, you could join the firefighters' corps so that you can do (such acts) on a daily basis," he said.

Adam Thiam, a Malian analyst and former presidential advisor told Reuters that Gassama's act had been praised in his home country.

"There is great pride here in Mali," Thiam said. "But while(Gassama) gets the honours, there are ... Malian citizens under the threat of being expelled by the French government."

Gassama told Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo by phone on Sunday he arrived from Mali a few months ago and wished to stay in France.