Democratic Republic Of Congo
A beer on the terrace with Emmanuel Macron in a festive district of Kinshasa? “I think everyone in my place would have done it …”, justified the spokesperson for the Congolese government on Tuesday, when questioned by the press on a highly commented escapade on social networks.
To end his visit to the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, the French president went to a bar in the town of Bandalungwa, known as "Bandal", in the company of musician Fally Ipupa and the Minister of Communication and door -government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya.
No journalist was present, but the scene was naturally immortalized by amateur videos.
Asked during his usual press briefing, Patrick Muyaya admitted that given "the context", with an ongoing armed conflict in the east of the country, people felt "that it was not appropriate". "People of good faith felt offended, I'm sorry about that," he said.
But "as a Bandalungwa notable, I was associated" with the movement of Emmanuel Macron and Fally Ipupa, he noted, and, "I think everyone in my place would have done it".
"Serious things had been said throughout the day," he added. And if Emmanuel Macron wanted to go to this district, it is undoubtedly because he says to himself in Kinshasa that "Bandal is Paris", joked the minister.
00:52
France to tighten visa rules for Algerian diplomats as row deepens
01:00
France’s largest wildfire in decades burns 16,000 hectares in south
01:00
One dead as France battles largest wildfire of this summer in Aude
01:16
France fast-tracks African art return in new heritage bill
01:00
New Hemingway-inspired mural unveiled in Latvian port city
01:00
Pix of the Day: July 31, 2025