French prime minister’s first foreign visits: Qatar then Morocco

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has embarked on his inaugural overseas diplomatic mission, with stops in Doha and Rabat to advance Paris’ strategic partnerships in the region.

Following his appointment at Matignon, the new head of government chose the Gulf state as his first destination. Lecornu arrived in Qatar on Tuesday to convey France’s official condolences after the passing of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled from 1995 until his abdication in 2013. The visit was personally authorized by President Emmanuel Macron as a gesture of ‘the profound friendship uniting our two nations.’