Opinions are divided in France, the day after the election of Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo at the head of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) at the end of the Summit of Heads of State held in Yerevan , in Armenia, on October 12th.
As expected, the one that succeeded the Canadian MIchaëlle Jean, did not unanimous consensus where a consensus appointment in camera in Yerevan. Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mushikiwabo has been the subject of many criticisms that point to the few cases that Rwanda would make of fundamental rights and the defense of French.
His candidacy, supported by Emmanuel Macron, had sparked off the shields.
Recall that in an article published by the newspaper Le Monde at the end of August, the Ivorian writer Véronique Tadjo regretted this appointment announced then “that in Rwanda, French has been replaced by English as a language of instruction”. Although French remains one of the official languages of the country.
In the wave of the Rwandan nomination and the 47th international meeting of the Francophone Press held at the same time in Tsaghkadzor, about 60 kilometers from Yerevan, the audience focused on the disappearance in Istanbul of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi suspected of being assassinated by Riyadh. A situation that embarrasses the kingdom of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and whose first consequence was the withdrawal of the candidacy of Saudi Arabia to the International Organization of La Francophonie.
The kingdom, which, indeed, sought membership as an observer member, asked “the postponement” of his solicitation. An approach strongly recommended to the Saudis by some of their friends in the Francophonie, according to a diplomatic source in Armenia.
