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French President Emmanuel Macron met with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja before taking off his jacket and tie in Lagos to celebrate African culture.
Macron High Voltage Tour at the Sanctuary – The Music Hall of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti – I was part of his last attempt to strengthen ties with English-speaking Africa.
"I am very happy to be here with you tonight," said Macron, addressing the enthusiastic and sibilant crowd in English.
Macron's jet landed in Abuja from Mauritania, where he attended the last day of a summit of the African Union dominated by security issues in the Sahel region
. before the presidential convoy leaves for the residence Aso Rock Buhari on the outskirts of the capital.
The 40-year-old former investment banker, who is fluent in English, spent six months as an intern at the French Embbady in the city. In the early 2000s
He told reporters traveling with him: "I love Nigeria very much, it's an attractive country, I have a lot of memories … that do not Have not left. "
He made the point to reinforce the links with the former French colonies but also to improve the trade with the English-speaking countries.
He visited Ghana last year and Nigeria – the economic powerhouse of Africa and the continent's largest oil producer – was the next logical step. ] Nigeria, a country ho I have more than 180 million people, produce nearly two million barrels of crude oil per day and is a key economic partner for France.
M. Macron said on the way to Mauritania that "regional security and the fight against Boko Haram" would be at the top of discussions with Buhari, calling him a "key player".
Nine years of violence in the far north-east spread to the entire Lake Chad region. As a result, Macron said that "the mobilization of African states is fundamental".
Nigeria and its French-speaking neighbors Cameroon, Chad and Niger are involved in a joint military force to fight jihadists, whose violence has killed at least 20 people. 000 people
Nigeria is also seized by an upsurge in violence between pastoralists and farmers, which has killed nearly 1,000 people since January this year.
Amnesty International said last week that 1,813 people had been killed in all types of violence since the beginning of 2018 – more than double that in the last 12 months.
This put pressure on former military leader Buhari, 75, while he is seeking a second term in the February elections.
In Nouakchott, Macron met with the leaders of the five French-backed military forces fighting the jihadists linked to the al-Qaeda movement in the Sahel.
Niger and Chad, where France has a large nce military contingent, are part of the "G5 Sahel" group, which has been facing an increase in attacks in recent days.
Late on Tuesday, Macron landed in Lagos and went straight to the shrine, where he praised Nollywood – l & # 39; Nigeria's mbadive film industry – and country music.
Describing the concert hall as "iconic", Macron said "we need to build a new shared narrative" in Africa.
"You have to recognize the bad and negative pages of this story, but you have to go from the front," he said to applause.
He launched the African Cultural Season to be held in France in 2020, featuring music, fashion and theater.
The choice of place surprised many Nigerians because of its badociation with the anti-establishment musician.
No elected president would have previously officially visited the spiritual home of the so-called "black president," which is more synonymous with marijuana smoke and gyratory dancers than diplomatic niceties.
Asked about the life as a trainee in Nigeria, Macron was silent about his past
"Obviously, I will not share any of these memories because what is happening in the shrine remains in the shrine," Macron said to cheers and Huge laughs.
On Wednesday, the president will inaugurate the new Alliance Française, a cultural center, and meet young Nigerian entrepreneurs.
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