Angola, Congo-B then DRC: Emmanuel Macron's marathon day in Central Africa

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) welcomed by Angolan President Joao Lourenço at the Casa Rosada presidential palace, in Luanda, on March 3, 2023. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN

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Emmanuel Macron, who is touring Central Africa from March 1 to 5, 2023, is in three countries in the region in the space of 24 hours, this Friday, March 3: Angola, Congo-Brazzaville then the DRC.

After Gabon, where he also met the Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra in the presence of the Gabonese President Ali Bongo, the French Head of State multiplies the meetings, such as those in Luanda where agriculture was strongly discussed. and economy.

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With our special correspondent in Luanda,

Continuation of French President Emmanuel Macron's African tour.

After two days in Gabon, where it was mainly about the environment, with a summit on the protection of tropical forests, the French head of state arrived on March 2, 2023 in Luanda in Angola.

A visit that should have taken place three years ago, but which has been postponed several times due to the health crisis.

► See also In Gabon, Emmanuel Macron claims not to have "come to 'invest' anyone" on the sidelines of the One Forest Summit

This trip is part of France's desire to strengthen ties with new partners on the continent.

A visit where the economy occupied part of the morning with a forum devoted mainly to agriculture.

, which is currently totally dependent on the oil sector, and above all to guarantee its food security in a country that imports a lot.

France has therefore made a commitment to the agricultural sector, in particular with aid from the French Development Agency (AFD) of 200 million euros for a climate resilience programme.

The two presidents, João Lourenço and Emmanuel Macron, then met for an hour to discuss political and diplomatic issues, including the crisis in eastern DRC.

► Read also L'Invité Afrique - "Direct contacts were made on February 28 with the M23", says Angolan President João Lourenço

Express and complex stage in Brazzaville

Emmanuel Macron then continues his marathon with two other countries on the program, since after Angola, the president flies away for a few hours in Congo-Brazzaville.

An express visit where an interview with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso is on the program.

And this is perhaps the stage where it will be the most difficult for the Élysée to play the “ 

 ” card that President Macron spoke of on February 27 in his speech before this African tour.

Indeed, he arrives in a country which has not known a democratic alternation since 1992 with at its head one of the oldest African presidents still in office.

We expect President Emmanuel Macron to remind us that it is unbearable to see prisoners of conscience in prison.

I recall that both, Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa, were condemned with totally farcical trials.

Maître Norbert Tricaud, member of the collective of lawyers of Congolese political opponents Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa, imprisoned for undermining the internal security of the State

Sidy Yansane

He must also meet the French community there for an intervention under the sign of memory, that of the role of Congo-Brazzaville during the Second World War.

And then in the evening, Emmanuel Macron will take off for the last leg of this tour.

A fairly short flight, just the river to cross to get to Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In Libreville, a Macron-Touadéra meeting, in the presence of Ali Bongo

On the sidelines of this tour in Central Africa, the French President also met on March 2, 2023 in Gabon with his Central African counterpart, Faustin Archange Touadéra, in the presence of the Gabonese President.

It was at the presidential palace in Libreville that the two heads of state met, in the presence of Ali Bongo.

A brief interview.

Information confirmed by a source close to the Elysee Palace and a high-ranking source in Libreville.

On the other hand, nothing has yet filtered on the content of the discussions between Faustin Archange Touadéra and Emmanuel Macron. 

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• Angola

• Congo Brazzaville

• ground floor

• Gabon

• Central African Republic

• France

• Emmanuel Macron

• Joao Lourenco

• Denis Sassou-Nguesso

• Faustin-Archange Touadera