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| Sarkozy visits Congolese leader | Sarkozy visits Congolese leader |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss ways of securing peace in the troubled east of the country. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss ways of securing peace in the troubled east of the country. |
| Mr Sarkozy, who is joined by French ministers and businessmen, has held talks with President Joseph Kabila. | |
| The delegation hopes to agree contracts in various sectors, including mining, telecommunications and infrastructure. | The delegation hopes to agree contracts in various sectors, including mining, telecommunications and infrastructure. |
| During his two-day African tour, Mr Sarkozy will also visit the Republic of Congo and Niger, ex-French colonies. | During his two-day African tour, Mr Sarkozy will also visit the Republic of Congo and Niger, ex-French colonies. |
| It is the first visit by a French president to DR Congo, a former Belgian colony, for 25 years. | It is the first visit by a French president to DR Congo, a former Belgian colony, for 25 years. |
| Addressing parliament in Kinshasa, Mr Sarkozy congratulated President Kabila for his efforts to reduce tensions with former enemies Uganda and, in particular, Rwanda. | |
| He praised as "courageous" the Congolese leader's decision to invite Rwandan troops into his country in January for a five-week joint operation against rebel militias plaguing the neighbours' border. | |
| Sarkozy's Africa policy shift | Sarkozy's Africa policy shift |
| The joint operation was politically sensitive as Rwanda has twice invaded the country in recent years and many Congolese were distrustful of the Kigali forces' presence. | |
| The DR Congo parliament's speaker was forced to quit on Wednesday after criticising Mr Kabila's decision to let in the Rwandan troops. | |
| Preparations for the visit have been overshadowed by comments Mr Sarkozy made in January when he suggested DR Congo share its mineral wealth with Rwanda as a way to end violence around the main eastern city of Goma. | |
| The BBC's Thomas Fessy in Kinshasa says both MPs and the Congolese people want the French leader to make it clear his plan respects the sovereignty of DR Congo over its resources. | |
| Mr Sarkozy is joined by executives from France Telecom, the world's biggest cement maker Lafarge and the construction group Vinci, which is set to renovate Kinshasa's airport. | |
| Later on Thursday he will cross the mighty Congo river to Brazzaville, capital of the smaller Republic of Congo, where the oil industry is dominated by French company Total. | |
| The Kivus region of eastern DR Congo was convulsed by fighting late last year as renegade General Laurent Nkunda fought government forces. | The Kivus region of eastern DR Congo was convulsed by fighting late last year as renegade General Laurent Nkunda fought government forces. |
| Gen Nkunda was arrested by Rwandan forces in January during the joint operation with Congolese forces. | |
| Are you in the region? What do you think of Sarkozy's visit? Can he make a difference? You can send us your comments using the form below: | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |