by S. G.
On Sunday, as the morning ended, Francophonie adopted its “Kinshasa Declaration. The organization’s 56 member countries and 20 observer states issued a statement covering a wide range of topics.
Here are the highlights:
A Place for Africa on the UN Security Council
“We reiterate our support for pursuing reform of world governance conducive to creating a balanced, multilateral system guaranteeing permanent and equitable representation for Africa in decision-making organs,” the OIF members countries concluded in their final declaration.
“As part of necessary reforms of the United Nations Security Council, African countries should receive a proper place,” they insisted. The expression they chose – proper place – lets the Organization avoid weighing in on the exact form of representation that it wants Africa to have on the Security Council. Canada was notably opposed to Francophonie’s call for a permanent African seat on the Council.
“We reiterate our call to pursue inviting two African countries to the G20 summit and to the G20’s summit preparations,” Francophonie members also declared. Currently, South Africa is the only African country invited to the G20.
A Renewed Partnership with Africa
Francophonie has made a general commitment to “support Africa in a renewed partnership.” “The African continent is playing a growing role in global governance. Africa is the new center of growth. It represents the future of Francophonie, thanks to the dynamism of its youth and its vast potential,” the group of francophone countries concluded.
According to the organization’s projections, 85% of the world’s 715 million French-speakers in 2050 could be Africans.
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