Macron urges unity as Francophonie summit opens in Cambodia

Leaders of French-speaking nations gathered in Phnom Penh as a row over who should lead the Francophonie and Congo’s threat to quit put pressure on Macron to broker consensus. 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. 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.