Leaders and senior officials from French-speaking countries gathered in Djerba, Tunisia, on Saturday, for a summit of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF), calling for stronger trade links within the francophone world.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the event in what some observers saw as a boost for Tunisian President’s Kais Saied’s government, which has been battling economic malaise following a sudden increase in living costs.
Officially, the main focus of the conference is technology and development,
Mitigating the effect of global inflation in light of the Ukraine conflict was one of the topics.
French is an official language in 29 countries, including a number of African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where at least 200 languages are spoken.
Around 300 million people globally speak French, making it the fifth most common language, a legacy of France’s colonial era, whose twilight began in the 1950s. The last French colony, Djibouti, gained independence in 1977.
The head of the IOF urged the organisation to use its clout in a world “fractured” by crises.
“The IOF must remain a link that can be used to prevent tensions from degenerating into conflicts,” said Louise Mishikiwabo, a former Rwandan chief diplomat.
Ms Mishikiwabo did not mention Rwanda's conflict with DRC in her speech, but Mr Macron's aides said he was to discuss it with other leaders.
Many African countries have decried what they feel is a lack of international solidarity in the face of crises on their continent, in sharp contrast with European governments' swift support for Ukraine.
Earlier, Mr Macron said the IOF should reclaim its diplomatic role, noting that in North Africa the use of French has declined over the past decades.
But he added that French remains “the universal language of the African continent”.
Mr Macron, who also attended the G20 summit in Bali and the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) meeting earlier this week, is not scheduled to address the summit.
It will belatedly mark the 50th anniversary of the now 88-strong bloc whose members, such as Armenia and Serbia, are not all French-speaking.
Ms Mushikiwabo said the bloc today is “more pertinent than ever”, adding that promoting “peace, democracy and human rights” is also part of the OIF's mission.
But Senegalese civil society figure Alioune Tine said the group has shown itself to be “totally powerless in the face of fraudulent elections, third mandates (of African leaders) and military coups” in Mali, Guinea, Chad and Burkina Faso.
Saturday's meetings came as international calls mounted for rebels to lay down their arms in the eastern DRC, where a lull was reported on the front lines after several days of intense fighting.
The meeting, normally held every two years, was postponed in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It was delayed again last year after Mr Saied suspended parliament, later dissolving it in moves that were condemned by western nations including France and Canada.
French political researcher Vincent Geisser said hosting the summit would help Mr Saied “leave his isolation, at least temporarily”.
Mr Saied said he wanted the conference to bring “tangible and effective” solutions to global problems.
“It's up to us to dream of a better world for all of humanity, and of universal development based on justice and freedom,” he said.
But Samira Chaouachi of the National Salvation Front, an alliance of anti-Saied political groups, told journalists it was “regrettable that Tunisia is hosting delegates at the Francophonie summit while its own institutions lack legitimacy.”
On Saturday, Mr Macron's office announced a €200 million ($207m) loan to Tunisia, which is in the final stages of talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $2-billion bailout package for its economy.
The%20Roundup
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Lowest Test scores
26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924
35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020
38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019
42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888
Key facilities
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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