Sarkozy arrives next week

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will arrive in the country on the 25th of this month and not the 26th as earlier anticipated. This was confirmed yesterday by Foreign Affairs Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, who said the French President will visit en-route from Gabon. Sarkozy is expected to hold talks with President Paul Kagame and other Government officials, visit the newly opened French diplomatic mission in Kigali and several other French establishments before proceeding to other African countries. According to sources, the French leader is expected to head straight to Kigali Genocide Memorial Site at Gisozi to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi before engaging in talks with President Kagame. Sarkozy’s visit, the first by a French President since 1994 is expected to crown a series of diplomatic engagements that have seen full restoration of ties between Paris and Kigali. The change in the date of the visit has also been confirmed by the French embassy. The planned visit was announced earlier this year by the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner while on visit to the country. Sarkozy is also expected to visit Egypt, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea and Ethiopia among other African countries. Ends

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Sarkozy arrives next week