Sunday, as part of the commemoration of the International Francophonie Day celebrated on March 20, Michaëlle Jean, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) accompanied among others by Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Johanna Rolland, Mayor of Nantes, visited the Memorial of the abolition of slavery, on the quai de la Fosse in Nantes, a former slave trade town.

The visit of this "symbolic hold" dedicated to the abolition of slavery has visibly moved Michaëlle Jean who declaim a haitian poem, and sang in Creole "Songs of Freedom" by Bob Marley, to thanks Nantes for its strong gesture towards the history of slavery. "Here, everything makes sense," she has told front the memorial built to remind the slave past of the city and remind visitors that dark part of the history "We are in front of these numbers of deportees, and we look here, today. What a long way ! It is courageous and great, this gesture you made to Nantes."

Following this visit, the personalities are separated by symbolically exchanging fair cocoa beans imported from Haiti.

Moreover, in a recorded message as part of the commemoration of the International Day of the Francophonie, Michaëlle Jean delivered a message.

Message from Michaëlle Jean :

PI/ iciHaiti