Tags: France, French, Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia,
The use of French is declining in North Africa, acknowledged the French president at a summit of French-speaking nations in Tunisia.
“English is a new common language that people have accepted,” Emmanuel Macron said at the Francophonie meeting. But he added that French remains “the universal language of the African continent”.
The Francophonie group – made up mainly of former French colonies – has been criticized for failing to play a greater role in diplomacy and crisis resolution, while current hosts Tunisia have received international condemnation for the recent President’s takeover.
On Friday, Tunisian police fired tear gas at protesters trying to reach the island of Djerba where the summit is taking place.
About 30 leaders – including those from Ivory Coast, Gabon, Rwanda and Canada – are expected to take part in the talks this weekend focusing on economic cooperation as well as responses to the Ukraine crisis.
According to the AFP news agency, Mr Macron told his colleague that La Francophonie should be “a space of resistance and reconquest” and called on him to resume his role.
#France #French #Africa #Morocco #Algeria #Tunisia #Mauritania