Macron urges unity as Francophonie summit opens in Cambodia

A summit of French-speaking nations opened Sunday in Phnom Penh, with French President Emmanuel Macron trying to head off a walkout by the group's biggest African member over who will lead it next.

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) brings together about 90 states and governments, including 53 full members, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Canada.

It is made up of countries that use French as an official language, former French colonies, and other states with substantial historic ties to France.

What is the disagreement about?

The OIF is set to choose its next secretary-general on Monday. 

Rwanda's Louise Mushikiwabo, who has held the post since 2018, is seeking a third term. DR Congo has threatened to leave if she is re-elected, accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 armed group in eastern Congo, an accusation Rwanda denies. 

DR Congo has 57.3 million French speakers, second only to France, per the OIF, so its exit would be a major blow. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew from the association last year after their membership was suspended over coups.

On Saturday, DR Congo said it was withdrawing its candidate, Juliana Lumumba, the 71-year-old daughter of the country's martyred independence hero, Patrice Lumumba.

Kinshasa said it would back former Romanian prime minister Dacian Ciolos to allow "consensus around a unifying candidacy." 

AFP described the offer as conditional on Rwanda also stepping aside. However, Rwanda's foreign minister said Mushikiwabo would stay in the race.

What did Macron say?

Macron warned against "internal fractures" in the group. 

"We must ensure that we preserve what constitutes its strength—namely, its unity," he said. 

Rwanda said Macron had asked President Paul Kagame to withdraw his candidate, which it refused. Macron's office said Paris suggested both candidates step aside. 

"With that intervention we're going backwards, to the idea that France decides," a member of a non-African delegation told AFP anonymously. France is the largest donor, and Canada provides 25% of the budget.

Macron arrives amid unrest at home, where more than 600,000 people marched earlier this month over wages and in support of student protests, with thousands arrested. 

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews urged delegates to press Cambodia, which has been referred to as a de facto one-party state, to free detained activists. "No one should be detained for defending human rights, reporting on matters of public concern, or voicing critical opinions," he said.

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