A Parisian surgeon, Pierre Feldman, comes to the imaginary North African country of Port Djema--a dusty remnant of the former French Empire in East Africa--to fulfill a promise he made to an old friend, Dr. Antoine Barasse, who ran a remote desert clinic from which he gave help to Assad rebels at war with the government. The promise: to find and save a missing young boy, whose photo Dr. Barasse had mailed to his collegue, Pierre, prior to his death. Pierre follows the steps of his friend in the capital port and shady cafes where subversives make their contacts. Guided by a rather too helpful taxi driver, he comes across brutalities in th courtside districts. Despite being warned about the danger, Pierre journey's into Antoine's clinic. He discovers a bruised and violent Africa, and above all the reverse side of humanitarian undertaking.