Behind the Scenes of a Very Special TV Programme
As Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of the Congo, I regularly speak to the media, particularly following meetings with members of the Government or alongside events organised by the Delegation. These exchanges are usually opportunities to summarise, in just a few minutes, the purpose of a meeting, the prospects of a partnership or the impact of a project.
The invitation to take part in the programme Portrait, hosted by Anaïse Issabou on Télé Congo, was of a very different nature — and, I must admit, far more intimidating.
It was a double exercise.
The first part consisted of explaining my role as Ambassador, but also presenting the work of the European Union in the Republic of the Congo: the richness of a multidimensional partnership between the Republic of the Congo and the European Union, our cooperation approach structured around the Global Gateway strategy, and the concept of Team Europe, which brings together EU Member States and European institutions around common objectives.
Anaïse Issabou had prepared her programme with great professionalism. She had carried out extensive research on projects funded by the European Union over the years and asked me about their concrete impact, as well as their prospects for replication and sustainability. These questions allowed me to illustrate, beyond concepts, the tangible reality of our cooperation on the ground.
The second exercise was more personal: revealing the woman behind the position. My former colleague, Azaad Manté, kindly agreed to share her testimony. Beyond nearly a year of working together within the Delegation, it was notably during a trip to Oyo that we truly had the opportunity to get to know one another better. For my part, this experience also allowed me to discover dimensions of Congolese culture and society that I had not yet known.
I must confess that I did not dare watch the programme when it aired on 15 February 2026. But encouraged by the positive feedback received on social media and from my colleagues, I finally watched it a few days later on YouTube.
As is often the case, I was rather critical of myself. Perhaps I could have been more precise on certain aspects — explaining the mechanisms of the European Union’s external action is not a simple exercise.
But beyond the technical details, I hope I managed to convey what matters most: my enthusiasm for the work I do and the pleasure of carrying it out here in the Republic of the Congo, a country that I am learning to know and appreciate more deeply every day.
You can find the link to the programme here: https://urls.fr/w8W4QL