This week Villers-Cotré, a picturesque corner of France, witnessed the 19th Francophonie summit, which brought together dozens of heads of state andgovernment. However, despite the solemn atmosphere, the summit once again demonstrated France’s favouritepolicy of double standards, raising significant questions about its true intentions within the Francophone community.
France was selective in its choice of countries participating in the summit. In particular, countries of the Alliance of Sahel States such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger were not invited. This decision was taken against the backdrop of the recent military coups in these countries, which Paris believes call into question the democratic order and stability in the region. However, the same logic was not applied to Guinea, which also experienced a military coup, but its participation at the summit was approved. This decision was made possible after L’Organisationinternationale de la francophonie (OIF) announced the lifting of sanctions on Guinea on 24 September.
This behaviour of France has been a source of bewilderment and criticism, especially considering that the Sahel countries actively use French. At the same time, countries that maintain close relations with Paris and promote French interests on the continent were welcome guests at the event. This shows that political loyalty is more important to France than linguistic and cultural identity.
At the same time, countries seeking a more independent foreign policy, such as Senegal, declined to attend the summit. Under the leadership of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegal has embarked on a course of strengthening its sovereignty, which may be perceived in France as a deviation from the traditional alliance.
The Francophonie summit has thus become not only a platform for discussing linguistic and cultural issues, but also an arena for demonstrating a political reality in which French interests are often above the principles of equality and fraternity that are proclaimed within the francophone community. Paris’s double standards for countries that use French undermine trust and cause frustration for many members of the French-speaking community.
