Tunisia: OIF member states propose postponement of Francophonie summit
OIF Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo was visiting Tunisia a few days ago to discuss the next Francophonie summit (illustrative image) LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
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The Francophonie summit was due to take place in Djerba in November, but during a meeting of the Permanent Council of the International Organization of La Francophonie on Tuesday, October 12, representatives of the 88 member and associate states agreed to postpone the deadline in the fall of 2022. The decision, precipitated by the political situation in Tunisia, still has to be ratified by the ministers but that seems to make few doubts.
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It is "
for the sake of cohesion and solidarity
" that the States of the International Organization of La Francophonie have agreed to propose this postponement of one year, explains the press release published Tuesday evening on the OIF website.
The goal ?
To be able to organize it "
in the most optimal conditions
".
Implied: this is not currently the case in Tunisia.
Since the end of July, the president has arrogated to himself extensive powers.
Kaïs Saïed suspended Parliament.
He has supporters, but also many opponents.
A demonstration again took place in Tunis on Sunday, the very day
after Louise Mushikiwabo's on-site visit
.
On Saturday, the Secretary General of the OIF met with President Saïed.
Tunisian organizers then assured that around twenty states had confirmed their arrival.
Except that there was no specific place or program for this summit scheduled for November 20 and 21.
The tone was meant to be reassuring, but the Tunisian head of state had released a little sentence.
Kaïs Saïed spoke of those who “
went to Paris and tried to derail the summit of La Francophonie.
Was he talking about political opponents?
From foreign partners?
A week before, he had spoken with his French counterpart.
Emmanuel Macron then, according to the Elysee press release, recalled his attachment to dialogue and mentioned “
the institutional calendar expected by the international community
”.
A sufficiently vague formulation to refer to the calendar of internal political reforms.
But also, after all, at an international summit like that of the OIF.
What is certain is that the image currently sent by Tunisia could have hampered certain member states of the French-speaking organization.
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Tunisia
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