- Title: France's Macron receives key to Abidjan from city's mayor
- Date: 21st December 2019
- Summary: ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MACRON GREETING AND SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE YOUTH WAVING FRENCH AND IVORIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ABIDJAN RESIDENT, SALIOU OUATTARA, SAYING: "We are awaiting results regarding the economy, especially for Ivory Coast, and on plans for other sectors, whether it be in education, health or infrastructure, especially since we've been told that he (Macron) came to inaugurate an urban train that will link the city of Anyama to the port of Bouet. I think it's a good thing for Ivory Coast. It's a good thing for the future, so that we can say that Ivory Coast is progressing." TRADITIONAL CHIEFS AND OFFICIALS TAKING SEAT / MACRON AND MAMBE ON STAGE MACRON AND MAMBE ON STAGE TRADITIONAL CHIEFS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (French) ABIDJAN MAYOR, ROBERT BEUGRE MAMBE, STANDING NEXT TO MACRON, SAYING: "We are making you an honourary citizen of the city of Abidjan, and on this occasion, I am handing to you the certificate to formalize it." TRADITIONAL CHIEFS WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (French) ABIDJAN MAYOR, ROBERT BEUGRE MAMBE, SAYING: "This is the key of the Abidjan autonomous city which I am giving you as an honourary citizen (applause)." TRADITIONAL CHIEFS SEATED / MACRON SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING: "Your four duties are - for me - four debts, that's how I see them. By greeting me 'Akwaba' (Welcome), by giving me the keys to the city, by making me an honourary citizen, by including me into a generation of Atchan people, by giving me a name and a lineage on this symbolic day, you have brought me even closer to Ivory Coast, and that touches me greatly." MACRON, MAMBE AND OTHER OFFICIALS WALKING OUT AFTER CEREMONY
- Embargoed: 4th January 2020 12:48
- Keywords: Alassane Ouattara Emmanuel Macron Ivory Coast keys of Abidjan
- Location: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
- City: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003BAX3LFR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French President Emmanuel Macron received the key to the city of Abidjan on Saturday (December 21) as he was named an honourary citizen of the Ivory Coast's economic capital.
Abidjan mayor Robert Beugre Mambe presented Macron the key during a ceremony attended by traditional chiefs and other officials at the city hall on the second day of the French president's official visit to the country.
"You have brought me even closer to Ivory Coast, and that touches me greatly," Macron said.
Macron inaugurated a sports centre in Abidjan later Saturday morning. He is slated to pay tribute to fallen French soldiers on Sunday (December 22) before flying to Niger.
After the death of the 13 soldiers, Macron ordered the military to review its operations against Islamist militants in West Africa and pressed his allies to do more.
The leaders of five Sahel nations are due to attend a summit in Paris on January 13.
(Production: Media Coulibaly, Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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