Above: Haiti President Michel Martelly (Photo: OP Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti President Michel Martelly has departed for the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the 14th Summit of La Francophonie, the international organization of the French-speaking world.

The summit, which begins this weekend in Kinshasa, is being held under the theme of environmental and economic challenges facing global governance.

Martelly’s office said the trip would include meetings with French President Francois Hollande, Benin President Dr Yayi Boni, Quebec Premier Pauline Marois and Abdou Diouf, the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

It is Martelly’s first visit to Africa since taking office in May 2011.

Haiti’s leader has been pushing for increased ties with Africa and the African Union, in which Haiti is seeking to attain full membership status.