Passport

Monsieur Hollande’s opus

French President Francois Hollande landed in Mali Saturday, and received a hero’s welcome in Timbuktu, which until recently was a jihadist stronghold. Can you imagine a U.S. president doing this? Hollande was greeted by Malians sporting shirts with the flags of both countries and banners reading “Thank You France” before being presented with a camel ...

By , a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images

French President Francois Hollande landed in Mali Saturday, and received a hero's welcome in Timbuktu, which until recently was a jihadist stronghold. Can you imagine a U.S. president doing this?

French President Francois Hollande landed in Mali Saturday, and received a hero’s welcome in Timbuktu, which until recently was a jihadist stronghold. Can you imagine a U.S. president doing this?

Hollande was greeted by Malians sporting shirts with the flags of both countries and banners reading “Thank You France” before being presented with a camel and wading into a crowd in the desert city. He was accompanied by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Development Minister Pascal Canfin.

Apparently the camel was extremely vocal in his support for the French leader, as you can see from this video.

The Washington Post editorial board asks: Is this Hollande’s "Mission Accomplished" moment? My question: What is he going to do with the camel?

Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

Read More On Africa | France | Mali

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