Seemingly influenced by online theories of Rihanna's alleged ties to the Illuminati, he continued: "Moreover, her arrival coincides strangely with the date initially planned for the Humanist and Freemason African and Malagasy Meetings [to be held in Dakar]. We will demonstrate as soon as she leaves the plane. And if necessary, we will go to the Assembly, the Ministry of the Interior or the Presidency."
The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is attempting to raise funds to educate some of the poorest and most vulnerable children in 65 countries. They aim to reach $2 billion a year by 2020, and replicate the improvements which have been in global health. Chair of the GPE and former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, spoke before the meeting, saying "Over the last few years, there’s been growing global interest in education, particularly girls’ education, but financing hasn’t as yet followed. We need a step change."
President of Senegal, Macky Sall, will be hosting the conference alongside Emmanuel Macron. And Interior Minister, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, has informed Jeune Afrique that measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of those who are attending the conference.
Rihanna took to Twitter yesterday to thank Macron for co-hosting the conference. "Merci Emmanuel Macron for stepping up to co-host @GPforEducation’s Financing Conference in Dakar!" she wrote. "Will France pledge €250M for @GPforEducation tomorrow?"
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Last year, the singer appealed to the Prime Minister to aid her efforts to fund education in third-world countries, especially in areas of conflict and crisis.
Macron, who is travelling to Senegal with his wife, Brigitte, is due to visit French forces serving with the G5 Sahel (a five-nation forced launched last year to counter extremism in West Africa) later this year.