BENIN-HOLLANDE/ARRIVAL French President Hollande arrives in Benin at the start of his Africa tour

Record ID: 148701

  • Title: BENIN-HOLLANDE/ARRIVAL French President Hollande arrives in Benin at the start of his Africa tour
  • Date: 2nd July 2015
  • Summary: COTONOU, BENIN (JULY 2, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PLANE OF FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE TAXIING ON TARMAC AND COMING TO STOP OFFICIALS WAITING HOLLANDE COMING OUT OF PLANE VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS, HOLLANDE WALKING ON TARMAC
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Benin
  • Country: Benin
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3J52FE4EVK40K1RI55UX39WFL
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French President Francois Hollande landed in Benin just past midnight in the early hours of Thursday (July 2), the first stop of his three-day Africa tour that will also take him to Angola and Cameroon.
    It's the first visit of a French president to Benin since 1983, a country whose democratic values are an example for a region more-known for presidents trying to amend constitutions to remain in power.
    Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi promised in April to leave power when his mandate expires next year.
    Neighbouring Burkina Faso's long-ruling president, Blaise Compaore, attempted to scrap limits last year and was driven out of power by protests.
    On his visit to the country, Hollande is expected to talk about democracy in Africa, and its importance for stability in the region.
    The visit to Benin is also expected to tighten security ties with a country who supported the French intervention in Mali.
    Benin is an active participant in the regional force to fight Islamist insurgents Boko Haram in Nigeria.
    Boko Haram has killed thousands and displaced around 1.5 million people during a six-year insurgency, seeking to establish an Islamic emirate and extending its reach into neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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