- Tunisia played host to the 18th summit of the International Organisation of Francophone countries on 19th November after a delay of two years. It was scheduled to take place in 2020
Tunisia played host to the 18th summit of the International Organisation of Francophone countries on 19th November after a delay of two years. It was scheduled to take place in 2020, but due to Covid and later due to the alleged power grab by the Tunisian President Kais Saied. Delegates from French-speaking countries gathered in Tunisia to focus on promoting economic cooperation.
Around 30 heads of state and government, including Senegalese President Macky Sall and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, participated in the summit on the southern Tunisian resort island of Djerba.
The political crisis in Tunisia has led to a severe economic crisis that has led thousands of Tunisians to leave the country seeking better opportunities in Europe.
The focus of the two-day summit included technology and development and global developments. Addressing the Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the members of the International Organisation of Francophone to use the platform as a space of resistance and reconquest. However, the bloc has also been criticised for failing to use its clout to resolve crises. He also noted that the use of French has declined in North Africa over the past few decades.
Also read;
https://trendsnafrica.com/president-macron-on-west-africa-tour/
https://trendsnafrica.com/togo-and-gabon-join-the-commonwealth/
The French-speaking community globally is estimated to be around 321 million- and is expected to reach 750 million in 2050.
