00:00Gabon's president, Brice Oligi N'Gamer, kicked off a state visit to France on Monday,
00:05a follow-up to French president Macron's visit to Libreville last year.
00:09Topping the agenda is Gabon's demand for French company Eramet to begin local processing of the
00:15manganese it mines in Gabon through local subsidiaries. Libreville has set a deadline
00:21of January 2029 for all ore to be processed before export. Paris, however, is pressing
00:28for more time to set up the necessary infrastructure. The two leaders will also
00:34discuss a greater withdrawal of French forces in Gabon and the land titled to a former French
00:39army base in the country. Lawyers for Gabon's jailed former prime minister and opposition leader
00:45Alain-Claude Billy Bayenzee are also pressing for Macron to intervene on his behalf. Billy Bayenzee
00:53was arrested in April on charges of fraud and breach of trust related to events from
00:582008. His lawyers say the charges are politically motivated and are calling on France to ensure
01:05his rights are respected. Since taking office, Macron has been trying to revitalise France's
01:11relationship with Africa and confirm a break from its colonial past.
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