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Sarkozy in Luanda to repair relations

Article published on the 2008-05-23 Latest update 2008-05-23 13:10 TU

French president Nicolas Sarkozy (r) and Angolan president Eduardo Dos SantosPhoto: AFP

French president Nicolas Sarkozy (r) and Angolan president Eduardo Dos Santos
Photo: AFP

On a visit to Angola, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed the creation of new seats on the UN Security Council, after the breakdown of plans to reform the body. Sarkozy is in Luanda as part of an effort to repair relations with a country which has become sub-Saharan Africa's largest oil producer.

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Sarkozy told Jornal de Angola newspaper that he "deeply regretted" that negotiations to reform the Security Council have stalled. France supports adding six countries, including two African ones, to the permanent members of the council.

The president proposed an interim reform which would create a new category of seats which would have a longer term than those that are currently elected and which would be renewable.

"At the end of the initial phase, it could be decided that those seats be transformed into permanent seats," he told the paper.

This is the first visit of a French president to Angola since 1998 and will last less than 24 hours.

The French leader will meet President José Eduardo dos Santos, followed by a ceremony where the two are expected to sign accords on bilateral cooperation.

The visit comes ahead of a court case involving 42 high-profile French officials accused of accepting illegal payments for arms sales to Angola between 1993 and 2000.

Those on trial include former interior minister Charles Pasqua and former president François Mitterrand's son, Jean-Christophe Mitterrand.

The French president is also to sign business deals during the visit. Despite surpassing Nigeria this year to become sub-Saharan Africa’s number one oil producer, Angola remains one of Africa’s poorest nations.

RFI’s reporter in Angola, Christophe Boisboivier, says that the visit is of strategic interest to both parties.

“A reconciliation with France will allow Angola to break the deadlock it is facing with China over the reconstruction market in the country. On the French side, Nicolas Sarkozy is of course delighted to open up the Angolan market to companies other than Total…”