The world’s club of French-speaking countries will meet in Tunisia from Saturday on a Tunisian island to discuss debt relief, migration, food, and energy shortages, with a rising cost of living across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East due to the backdrop caused by the Russian-Ukraine war.
French Role (OIF)
According to the reports, around 30 heads of state and government, including high officials are ready to attend the summit of the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF), which fosters relations amongst nations using the French language on the southern Tunisian resort island of Djerba.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the presidents of eight African nations were attending the 18th annual meeting of the 88-member International Organization of Francophonie.
European Council President Charles Michel was also in Tunisia for the two-day summit, the organization’s first meeting to discuss social, political, and economic affairs in three years following the covid pandemic travel restrictions and lockdowns.
The group’s secretary-general and Rwanda’s former Foreign Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, said the participants plan to issue a final declaration after the end of the summit.
The Tunisian summit which is happening alongside the final stage of UN climate talks in Egypt, and the G20 Bali summit will officially focus on digital technology’s role in development, although it will also be an occasion where many African countries can express their views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what they see as a lack of international solidarity in the face of crises on their continent against the developed nations.
Some reporters also claim that the leaders will also focus on ways to boost the use of the French language around Europe and in international forums as its use declines when compared to the English language.
Organizers said that the summit will belatedly celebrate the 50th anniversary of its members and the presidents of Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Mauritania, Niger, Burundi and Rwanda are representing about the world’s 321 million French-speaking people, which is expected to more than double to 750 million in 2050 across the African continent, including Tunisia.
Political and economic issues 2022
The president of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, did not attend the summit amid escalating tensions with neighboring Rwanda, President Paul Kagame was in Djerba, to condemn what they say is ‘Rwanda’s aggression’.
Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde will be in Tunisia in the president’s place, the government said. Lukonde refused to appear in the family photo during the opening session because of Kagame’s presence.
Congolese authorities accuse Rwanda of supporting the military coup, which Rwanda refuses to accept. Violence by armed groups in eastern Congo has forced hundreds to escape over the past few months, sparking a diplomatic crisis between the two French-speaking African nations.
Although the summit will be an opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation and promote peace, democracy, and human rights, it recognizes the role of Tunisia and other non-French-speaking members in international diplomacy. Senegalese civil society figure Alioune Tine instead criticized the OIF’s record on international crisis mediation.
The summit, including a two-day economic meeting of the organization, is taking place amid strict security regulations next week. Tunisia is confronted by a deep economic crisis that has plunged a growing number of its population to flee to reach Europe.
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Ahead of the planning for the international meetings, authorities also gave the Tunisian island a rejuvenated look by building new roads and improving infrastructure around the island that houses several historical sites, including one of Africa’s historical synagogues.
The meetings are expected to boost the standing of Tunisian President Kais Saied, who has been opposed by the West for granting himself sweeping powers over the past year after dissolving parliament and dismissing the prime minister.
Kais Said said that many Tunisians welcomed his motives and that they were necessary to save the North African country amid protracted political and economic crises. However, other critics and Western allies allege that the move to grab power in haste actually jeopardized Tunisia’s young democracy.
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