Without dialogue and consensus conflicts may drag on within the La Francophonie bloc, French President Emmanuel Macron said in his opening remarks at the 20th La Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
President Macron called on member states to preserve the unity of OIF through dialogue and consensus.
“We must build consensus to preserve unity,” he stressed, advocating for a Francophonie that is united, committed and forward-looking.
Macron acknowledged that the Francophonie “is not spared from crises” and called for “building consensus” to preserve its unity.
Macron carefully avoided pointing fingers at any country or specifically mentioning an existing rift between some members of the bloc.
On Monday the Francophonie leaders will elect a new Secretary General of the organisation.
Rwanda one of smallest members and the Democratic Republic of Congo the world’s largest french speaking country have fielded candidates for the OIF Sec.Gen slot.
Throughout the campaigns for their candidates, the two countries have dragged Political disputes to Phnom Penh.
Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of aiding the FRN rebels who currently control large parts of North and South Kivu Provinces in East of the mineral rich country of over 100million people.
The DRC has been working so hard to prevent the Rwandan incumbent Louis Mushikiwabo from being re-elected.
The competition for the slot saw DRC field candidate Juliana Lumumba daughter of independence icon Patrice Lumumba.
