France, March 13 -- Barrot arrived in Bangui on Thursday and is scheduled to meet President Faustin-Archange Touadera on Friday. 

France had not previously sent a foreign minister to the Central African Republic since Jean-Yves Le Drian's visit in November 2018. 

The trip is part of a broader effort to revive ties that cooled in recent years as Russia expanded its political and military influence in the resource-rich country. It follows Touadera's visit to Paris in April 2024, where he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on a road map to resetting relations.

During his stay, Barrot is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Felix Moloua and Foreign Minister Sylvie Notefe. He will visit the European Union Train...