According to Bloomberg, Rihanna will be joined by Emmanuel Macron, President of France, in Dakar, Senegal this Friday (February 2) for the Global Partnership for Education conference, to promote children’s education through her charity, the Clara Lionel Foundation, and to meet with school children in Dakar.
While pushing for more money to contribute to the education of young girls is on Rihanna’s agenda, the star will also be supporting President Macron’s message on climate, immigration, and the fight against terrorism. The trip to Senegal will be Macron’s sixth trip to the continent since his election in May 2017, and reflects that Africa is one of his top priorities when it comes to foreign policy.
An Elysee Palace official released a statement explaining that Rihanna “won’t limit herself to just showing up at a conference and is likely to make a symbolic visit to a school” and that she has “greatly” contributed to the fundraising for the project.
Rihanna previously met with both Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron this past summer in France to discuss the importance of education in impoverished communities, after she sent a tweet to the President asking him if he was willing to fund education.
🇫🇷 bonjour @EmmanuelMacron, will France commit to #FundEducation?
— Rihanna (@rihanna) June 23, 2017
