Francophone summit opens in Cambodia, overshadowed by tensions in Africa

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a gathering of French-speaking nations, kicked off its summit in Phnom Penh on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron aimed to prevent the withdrawal of the group's largest African member, Rwanda, over the selection of the next secretary-general. Rwanda's incumbent, Louise Mushikiwabo, is seeking a third term, but the Democratic Republic of Congo threatened to leave if she secured another appointment, alleging Rwanda's support for the M23 armed group in eastern Congo.

Kinshasa subsequently withdrew its candidate, Juliana Lumumba, endorsing former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos instead. Other nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, had already suspended their membership due to coups. Macron emphasized the importance of preserving the OIF's unity, warning against internal fractures.

Despite France's significant contributions as the largest donor, some non-African delegates criticized Macron's interference, alleging he was undermining the group's democratic process. Meanwhile, UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews called on delegates to ensure human rights defenders were not detained, highlighting concerns over Cambodia's human rights record.