Visit by Jean-Yves Le Drian to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad (20-21 May 2019)
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and then Chad from May 20 to 21.
In Kinshasa, the minister will be formally received by President Felix Tshisekedi. During this meeting he will underscore France’s determination to forge a long-term partnership with the DRC focusing on three major priorities: education, health and security. He will also signal our desire to work together to combat climate change, protect biodiversity and promote all aspects of French language and culture.
The minister will visit the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (National Institute of Biomedical Research) (INRB), which works jointly with the Institut de Recherche et de Développement (Institute of Research and Development) (IRD) and the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (National Institute for Health and Medical Research) (INSERM) to improve research into the Ebola virus.
The minister will discuss security issues during a working meeting with the Congolese authorities and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Leila Zerrougui. He will deliver an address on security issues in Africa and the DRC before an audience at the Centre des Hautes Etudes de Stratégie et de Défense.
He will visit the Institut français in Kinshasa to discuss cultural cooperation in the run-up to the 2020 Season of African Cultures as well as educational and cultural cooperation between France and the DRC.
He will also meet with representatives of civil society and up-and-coming figures to discuss questions of governance.
In N’djamena, the minister will have an audience with President Idriss Déby. He will bring up the upcoming legislative elections; the fight against terrorism in the Sahel, in which Chad is a major partner; and the situation in the Central African Republic and Libya.
He will also meet with National Assembly Vice President Moussa Kadam and heads of parliamentary groups represented in the National Assembly.
The minister will also review the situation in the Sahel with the commander of the Barkhane force, General Blachon.