French-speaking nations hold a summit in Cambodia but an African conflict threatens a rift

Detailed summary

France's President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders are attending a biennial meeting of French-speaking countries and territories in Cambodia

France's President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders are attending a biennial meeting of French-speaking countries and territories in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Emmanuel Macron is set to attend a biennial meeting of French-speaking territories beginning Saturday in Cambodia, where the French president contending with public unrest at home will face international political challenges as an African conflict hangs over the proceedings.

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie is holding the three-day meeting through Monday in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Macron is expected to engage in bilateral discussions and join the summit meeting of the loose confederation of 90 member states and governments comprising 53 full members, five associate members and 32 observers where French is spoken.

Cambodia will take over the summit's chairmanship from Macron, who served as chair in 2024 when France was the host nation.

Before departing for Malaysia on Monday, Macron is scheduled to visit the Angkor World Heritage Site near the city of Siem Reap, where he and King Norodom Sihamoni will mark the completion of a French-supported restoration of the West Mebon temple.

The French leader's trip comes at a time of widespread domestic protests. France’s Interior Ministry said more than 600,000 people took to the streets earlier this month in a demonstration to demand higher wages and support the country’s student protest movement, which has resulted in thousands of arrests, hundreds of injuries and schools set on fire.

The summit's sticky diplomacy for Macron and other leaders will take place when participants decide on Monday who will serve for the next four years as the group’s leader and chief executive in the role of secretary-general.

The choices include candidates from two bitterly feuding African members, Rwanda's Louise Mushikiwabo, who is seeking reelection to a third four-year term, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Juliana…

Congo…

Opening of the article, excerpted from ABC News. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.