France in South Africa

🎥 In celebration of 200 years of the Basotho nation, the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and the Alliance Française of Maseru have produced a short documentary which delves into the incredible leadership of King Moshoeshoe I and his relationship with 3 French missionaries 🇱🇸 Explore the rich historical ties between Lesotho and France, featuring archival materials from the Maseru-based, Morija Museum & Archives 🇫🇷 🔗 Watch "The Kingdom in the Sky: Moshoeshoe’s Strategy and Legacy": https://swll.to/SCPTj4 Subtitles available in French and Sesotho. #Lesotho #Moshoeshoe #Documentary #History Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Alliance Française de MASERU Morija Museum & Archives Lesotho Government Lesotho Government Public Relations Lesotho Government Public Relations European Union in Lesotho

Honoring a life of resilience and remembrance 🇫🇷✨ On Friday, November 1, 2024, a moving ceremony was held at the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, where the French Ambassador to South Africa, Mr. David Martinon, awarded Mrs. Hélène Joffe the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. The ceremony, rich with emotion, was attended by Deputy Consul Mrs. Fabienne Fort, Mr. Alexandre Barrière Izard, the elected representative of the French community abroad, Mrs. Olivia Ashby, Director of the Lycée Français International du Cap, and many of Hélène’s loved ones and friends. It was also a special opportunity to celebrate Hélène’s 90th birthday  🎂 At 90, Hélène Joffe stands as a symbol of memory and dedication. As a hidden child during World War II, she has spent her life sharing her story, ensuring that the lessons of history reach younger generations. "I am convinced that I was saved to bear witness, to tell my story, and to make sure these events never happen again," she shares. Hélène regularly speaks to students at the French International School in Cape Town, keeping history alive. Born into a Jewish family in Crimea, Hélène had a peaceful childhood in Marseille until the war changed everything. On January 22, 1943, during the Marseille roundup, her father was arrested and later deported to Sobibor, where he perished. Hélène, then only five years old, began her two-year journey of survival. Saved by the luck of her blond hair and blue eyes, she, her mother, and her younger brother escaped a temporary camp and went into hiding, thanks to the networks of the French Resistance Years later, Hélène’s path led her to Cape Town, where she built a life of teaching and cultural contribution. Her passion for languages and education shone through in her roles as a French teacher at local schools and a translator at the French Embassy. Hélène was previously awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite in 2013. Now, more than 80 years after her arrest in Marseille, her recognition as a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur affirms her legacy of courage, resilience, and hope. 🎥 Her powerful story is the subject of a forthcoming documentary project initiated by the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, with the support of the French Institute of South Africa and the Consulate General of France in Cape Town. 🔗 To learn more: https://swll.to/aL60BQ Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Sophie Bel

Strengthening Food Security and Resilience in Malawi 🌽 🇲🇼 The arrival of the World Food Programme ship carrying 19,000 tons of maize donated by Ukraine 🇺🇦 in Blantyre on Novembre 5th, marks a crucial step in addressing food shortages in Malawi. Our Honorary Consul, Mr Luc Deschamps, along with H.E. Mr. Andriy Pravednyk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Kenya, H.E. Mr. Per Lindgärde, Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe, Mr. Bouke Bjil, Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Reverend Charles Kalemba, Principal Secretary and Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs and Paul Turnbull, WFP Country Director, were on-site to welcome this vital support for Malawians in need.This support is part of the "Grain from Ukraine" initiative and will provide two month of in-kind food assistance for up to 863,000 acutely food-insecure people in Malawi. This donation from Ukraine, amid the challenges of an ongoing conflict, is a testament to resilience and solidarity. The global repercussions of the war have severely disrupted food supplies worldwide. Honoring President Macron’s commitment announced at the UN, France has allocated USD 15 million to this operation, with USD 2.6 million specifically directed to support Malawi. Malawi’s food crisis, intensified by the El Niño climate pattern, shows the urgent need for global cooperation. Climate change and yearly natural disasters are creating a cycle of crises that demand collective, innovative solutions. France remains committed to this cause, hosting the upcoming Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris in March 2025, aimed at securing fair access to food for climate-vulnerable nations. Our contribution of USD 190 million annually to the WFP reflects our dedication to building sustainable food systems. Together, through global cooperation, we can address urgent needs while creating lasting resilience for future generations. Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères World Food Programme Southern Africa Nancy Tembo Martin Deramond Cecelia Kok Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera

Today, it was an honor to host the AfriLabs Annual Gathering High-Level Ministerial Roundtable as part of the #AfriLabsAnnualGathering in Cape Town, South Africa. This event, co-organized with Co-Develop brought together an exceptional group of high-level representatives from government, international organizations, and the private sector—all committed to fostering Africa’s digital future. With government officials from Nigeria, France, South Africa, Namibia, Algeria and Angola, alongside partners from the United Nations, International Telecommunication Union, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), RLabs *Reconstructed Living Lab and Intel Corporation, today’s discussions around #DigitalPublicInfrastructure highlighted the transformative power of partnership. The session was both inspiring and constructive, underscoring our shared vision of sustainable growth through collaboration. My heartfelt thanks go to Honourable Jane Sithole, Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, South Africa, for her exceptional leadership during the Roundtable, and the representative of U.N. Envoy on Technology, Mehdi Snene, Ph.D. Senior Advisor, AI and Digital Transformation for the informed presentation on Africa DPI-Stack. Thank you Garikai Nhongo, MCIM for skillfully moderating the dialogue, and all our partners who have been instrumental in making these conversations possible. Today marks another step forward in our journey to unify Africa’s innovation landscape, drive inclusive growth, and strengthen the digital ecosystem. Looking forward to building on this momentum together!

From over 700 applicants, down to 40 and finally the top 12 entrepreneurs, the past year and a half of the #CréationAfrica programme has been the ride of a lifetime! 🎢 On the way we met colleagues that became friends, made friends that became family, been inspired, pushed our potential beyond limits we thought unimaginable, explored new destinations, and finally made it to the end of what has been an incredible journey 🤗🫶 Thank you to all the creatives from South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi who have shared their talents, to all our partners who together have brought the project to life, and to you all for joining the ride from the first day. Thank you for a great Création Africa 2024 🇿🇦 🇱🇸 🇲🇼 Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Institut français IQOQO Bpifrance UVU Africa Rucita Vassen Viveka Vassen Thabo Tsolo Jimmy M. Muteba Thebe Magugu Terrence Ngulube Xolile Mabuza Glorinah Khutso Mabaso Kushal Jeethendra Sithlu Giyani Reuben Mashimbye Cassandra Twala Chimwemwe Mkwezalamba Rafik Seleman Katleho Monyako Julian Kubel #CréationAfrica #CréationAfricaTop12 #FrenchEmbassySA #FrenchInstituteSouthAfrica #UVUAfrica #Bpifrance #FrenchMinistryEuropeForeignAffairs #FrenchInstituteParis

The AfriLabs Annual Gathering is starting! 🚀 We warmly invite all #AAG2024 attendees to join our Innov4Good session focusing on social innovation in South Africa and Malawi. It’s on Thursday 7 November! ⏱️At 14:00, our 9 selected entrepreneurs will pitch to get a chance of winning a grant and a trip to ChangeNOW in Paris. ⏱️At 16:15 on main stage, our Consul General Sophie Bel will announce the 3 laureates of the programme. Come attend and discover their unique solutions! Today, our Ambassador David Martinon is joining a roundtable on innovation across the continent, where we will reaffirm our pride to be partners of African digital ecosystems, and explore ways to deepen cooperation. #socialinnovation #entrepreneurs #startup Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Small Farm Cities Africa Sollys Energy Zoie Health Cape MedTech AI Diagnostics Planact South Africa Urobo Biotech Irène Olohou Geoffroy Berson Corentin Ducroquet W. Leif Van Grinsven Braden van Breda Alfred Kankuzi Juandré Klopper Wessel Myburgh Meri Hyöky Lira Teboho Victor Khalala Itumeleng Dhlamini Christine Nicola Martin Masiya SAMANJALO .

🔬 French and South African researchers team up to excavate in the #CradleofHumankind to understand our #evolution   ❓Have you ever wondered about the environmental context in which the first South African pre-humans and humans lived and how southern Africa’s contemporary biodiversity came into being? Well, our dedicated Partenariat Hubert Curien (PHC) PROTEA researchers from #France and #SouthAfrica are working hard in the quest for answers.   🌍Apart from the Bolt’s Farm fossiliferous area where the researchers are conducting their field studies, there are no deposits in southern Africa that would allow a longitudinal study of environmental changes and the evolution of biodiversity to our knowledge. The other sites in the region only have deposits that have accumulated over a much shorter geological period thus making them dated from the Lower Pliocene to the Middle Pleistocene Transition (MPT). To better understand this Plio-Pleistocene Transition (PPT), we need to understand the characteristics of the palaeobiodiversity and palaeoenvironments that existed before, during and after it.   🔎The goal? Through this multidisciplinary investigation into paleobiodiversities and paleoenvironments during the Plio-Pleistocene at Bolt's Farm this research will enable us to understand the environmental context in which the first of our nation’s pre-humans and humans lived and how the current biodiversity of southern Africa came into being. The same applies to relations between Southern Africa and East Africa, in particular when these exchanges of biodiversity (including our ancestors) took place and in what direction.   🧑🔬Meet the team on the ground! 🇫🇷 CR2P (Centre de Recherches en Paléontologie -Paris – CNRS (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique), MNHN (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle), and SU-FSI (Sorbonne Université – Faculté des Sciences & Ingénierie) – the lead partner laboratory specialising in palaeontology – ISTeP (Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris – SU-FSI and CNRS) – a geology laboratory – and IMPMC (Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie – SU-FSI, CNRS, MNHN & IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), involved in understanding the fossilisation phenomena.   🇿🇦 Project sponsor, the Department of Zoology (Faculty of Sciences, University of Johannesburg – UJ) which involved in palaeontology and student training, while the DNMNH (Ditsong: National Museum of Natural History, Plio-Pleistocene Palaeontology section) is the repository for the collections.   💡Fieldwork at Bolt’s Farm is covered by two excavation permits issued by SAHRA (South African Heritage Resources Agency) and held by N. Vilakazy (University of Johannesburg), L. Kgasi (DNMNH) and D. Gommery (CR2P).   🔗 https://lnkd.in/d8usSFQu.

When children are having children, we cannot look away 💔 Despite a global decline in teenage pregnancies, South Africa has witnessed an alarming rise, with reported cases rising from 90,000 in 2021/2022 to 150,000 in 2022/2023 among girls aged 10 to 19. In Malawi, nearly 29% of girls aged 15-19 are pregnant—almost 1 out of 3 girls. This is alarming. For many, these pregnancies result from statutory rape, highlighting the critical need for protection and education. To address this, the Embassy of France has supported the training of 428 social workers in South Africa and Malawi. Through partnerships with Valued Citizens Initiative and the Association of Social Workers in Malawi - ASWiM, these professionals are now equipped to deliver comprehensive sexuality education and empower young people on their journey. 🎥 Watch our new video series to see how social workers are making a difference, empowering young people, and helping create safer futures. #teenagepregnancy #education #socialworkers #childprotection Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Cecelia Kok Martin Deramond David Martinon

Congratulations to all the animators who completed the Mollo Academy-GOBELINS 2D animation Summer School🔥 ✍ For the first time, South African animation academy, Mollo, and the world’s leading animation school, GOBELINS Paris teamed up to deliver Johannesburg’s first 2D Animation Summer School for Next-Gen Animators. Trained and talented 2D animators from South Africa, the wider African continent and France benefited from this unique opportunity to enhance their skills in character animation techniques. What did they get? 👾 8-days of hands-on workshops by Mollo and GOBELINS Paris trainers; 👾 7 masterclasses by lead animators from South Africa and France; 👾 A 2D animation guidebook designed by Mollo Academy. Well done to all the talented participants! GOBELINS Paris Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct National Film and Video Foundation South Africa University of the Witwatersrand #animation #2D #summerschool #tshimologongthefuture #gobelins

✍️ On October 30, 2024, the Daily Maverick published an op-ed on “re-establishing the facts against Russia’s narrative on its invasion of Ukraine”, signed by Ambassador David Martinon and co-signed by several EU Ambassadors, from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia 🇦🇹🇧🇪🇭🇷🇨🇿🇩🇪🇪🇪🇱🇹🇵🇱🇸🇰 Published in the follow-up of the official visit of Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, the tribune is a reminder of historical facts to de-bunk manipulations of information and disinformation about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It recalls that it is Ukraine’s sovereign right to apply to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU). France and the EU have demonstrated unwavering support for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale, brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine 🇺🇦, as recalled by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot during his official visit to Ukraine in October 2024. After more than two and a half years of war of aggression provoked by Russia, let us stand by Ukraine and pursue the efforts for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, following the efforts by the international community around the Ukrainian peace formula. 🔗 Check out the op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/dsnFJnAi #ukraine #eu #peacediplomacy Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Embassy of Lithuania to South Africa Austrian Embassy Pretoria Embassy of Belgium in Pretoria The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Alexandre Brochard Tristan Rétif-Roussignol Liubov Abravitova Romana Königsbrun