Benin
French President Emmanuel Macron is on a business visit to Benin on Tuesday and Wednesday following an invitation from his Beninese counterpart, Patrice Talon.
After a a tête-à-tête with Mr. Talon at the Marina Palace in Cotonou, Mr. Macron is expected to visit the exhibition of royal treasures returned to Benin by the French government last November.
In Benin, Macron is expected discuss ways to combat an increase in terrorist threats and to prevent it from spilling into countries in the Gulf of Guinea.
French Opposition and majority MPs has urged the Head of State to put pressure on President Patrice Talon on the issue of human rights during his trip to Cotonou on 27 July.
The parliamentarians denounce the repression orchestrated on political opponents, particularly the former Minister of Justice, Reckya Madougou, and the constitutionalist Joël Aïvo, sentenced respectively to twenty and ten years in prison.
Macron's final stop is on Thursday in Guinea-Bissau where he will explore plans to build a French school on local government designated land.
Go to video
Civil society leaders call for French army withdrawal from Burkina Faso
00:20
Ahead visit to DR Congo, Pope Francis denounces "colonialist mentality" towards Africa
01:47
Dakar 2 summit: 'Africa must learn to feed itself', says Macky Sall
Go to video
Timeline from a year of political turmoil in Burkina Faso in 2022
00:47
Burkina Faso's military leader demands French departure
01:06
Demonstrators demand France withdrawal from Burkina Faso