Macron urges unity as Francophonie summit opens in Cambodia
French President Emmanuel Macron is attempting to maintain unity at the Francophonie summit in Cambodia amid internal disputes over leadership. The Democratic Republic of Congo has threatened to leave the organization if the current secretary-general, Rwanda's Louise Mushikiwabo, is re-elected.
Why it matters
The potential exit of the DRC, a major French-speaking nation, poses a significant threat to the influence and cohesion of the OIF.
Leaders of French-speaking nations gathered in Phnom Penh as a row over who should lead the Francophonie and Congo’s threat to quit put pressure on Macron to broker consensus.
https://p.dw.com/p/5PSxV Prefer DW on Google Cambodia is taking over the summit's chairmanship from Macron, after France served as the host nation in 2024 Advertisement A summit of French-speaking nations opened Sunday in Phnom Penh, with French President Emmanuel Macron trying to head off a walkout by the group's biggest African member over who will lead it next.
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) brings together about 90 states and governments, including 53 full members, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Canada .
It is made up of countries that use French as an official language, former French colonies, and other states with substantial historic ties to France.
The OIF is set to choose its next secretary-general on Monday.
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