President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame are in Djerba, Tunisia for the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government members of La Francophonie that has begun today.
Themed “Connectivity in diversity – the digital vector of development and solidarity in the French-speaking world,” the two-day summit and an associated economic forum focus on digital technology’s role in development, and is an opportunity for all member states to discuss current global issues.
Having been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Summit will belatedly mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Francophone Community. The Summit will also elect the Secretary-General of Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie for the 2023-2026 tenure. Its current Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo, who is also Rwanda’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, is standing unopposed for re-election.
Founded in 1970, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), La Francophonie counts 88 member states with the goal of sharing the French language and universal values for the sake of peace, cooperation, solidarity, and sustainable development.
The world’s French-speaking community is around 321 million people and is expected to more than double to 750 million in 2050. (End)