French President Emmanuel Macron is starting a four-nation tour of Central Africa with a visit to Gabon, as France reshapes its strategy on the continent.
This follows its troops' bruising withdrawal from Mali and Burkina Faso.
He won't visit them or any of the other Sahel countries, where Paris has been blamed for failing to curb Islamist militancy.
Both Mali and Burkina Faso have now invited in Russian mercenaries, but French diplomats hope Mr Macron's tour will counter the increasing Russian and Chinese influence in Africa.