The meetings with his counterparts and President Macky Sall and President Alpha Condé will provide an opportunity to take stock of our very close bilateral relations and regional issues.

Senegal and Guinea have deployed large contingents of Blue Helmets to peacekeeping operations in Africa.

In Senegal, the visit will notably help prepare for President Macky Sall’s state visit to France in December. Jean-Marc Ayrault will pay tribute to some of the recent development initiatives, notably with respect to decentralized cooperation. He will take part, alongside President Macky Sall, in the ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day and will pay tribute to the Senegalese sharpshooters, in Thiaroye. He will take part in consultations on the international crises being addressed by the UN Security Council; Senegal holds the presidency of the Security Council this month.

In Guinea, Jean-Marc Ayrault will express France’s support for the efforts of the country, which was declared free of the Ebola epidemic in June. He will affirm our support by launching, together with President Alpha Condé, the construction of the Pasteur Institute and the center for clinical research and training on infectious diseases. In the run-up to COP22, he will also discuss the prospects for renewable energy with President Alpha Condé, who is the coordinator of the African initiative on this issue. He will take part in the November 11 ceremonies at the cemetery of Boulbinet.

In Senegal as well as Guinea, Jean-Marc Ayrault will meet with our compatriots established in these countries.