The Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, has called for faster implementation of the organisation’s programmes, particularly those aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young people.
She made the call on Sunday, November 15, 2026, during the opening of the 20th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OIF, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The summit brought together leaders from the organisation’s 56 member states, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame, French President Emmanuel Macron and other senior officials.
Held under the theme “Investing in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Security,” the summit seeks to strengthen the contribution of French-speaking countries to promoting peace, security and development.
In her address, Mushikiwabo highlighted the OIF’s important role on the international stage, stressing the need for the organisation to strengthen its influence and contribution to addressing global challenges.
She called for the acceleration of ongoing projects to ensure they deliver tangible benefits to citizens, particularly young people in need of employment opportunities.
Mushikiwabo also presented the priorities and expectations of young people to the assembled leaders, drawing on discussions she had held with them. She noted that young people want the OIF to step up efforts to create jobs and strengthen cooperation between countries in the Global North and Global South.
“Young people want the Organisation to increase its efforts towards job creation and further promote exchanges and cooperation between countries of the North and the South,” she said.
Leaders call on OIF to prioritise peace and cooperation
During the opening ceremony, Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet welcomed delegates, reaffirming their country’s commitment to promoting peace and international cooperation.
Prime Minister Hun Manet said the world needs renewed commitment to peace, dialogue and respect for international law, emphasising that no country should alter or expand its borders through the use of force or weapons.
He highlighted Cambodia’s ambition to serve as a bridge between Asia and French-speaking countries, particularly at a time when the world is facing wars, divisions and declining trust among nations.
“Cambodia speaks of peace because it has known war. We know what war destroys and what peace makes possible,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron also called for continued efforts to promote the French language globally through various initiatives, including volunteer programmes aimed at teaching the language.
He stressed that the OIF should go beyond promoting French language and culture to actively contribute to economic development, job creation, gender equality and innovation, while also recognising the importance of other languages.
Guterres warns that the world spends more on weapons than peace
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who attended the opening ceremony, said the summit’s theme highlights a critical global challenge: the need to invest more in peace.
He noted that although peace is essential for development and national security, the world continues to spend significantly more on military activities while development assistance remains inadequate.
“Today, global military spending is 13 times higher than all development assistance combined. The world is investing heavily in building up weapons but allocating far fewer resources to peace,” he said.
Guterres explained that investing in peace requires support for diplomacy, respect for international law and ensuring that the benefits of development are shared fairly.
He stressed that achieving peace requires more than simply reducing countries’ military capabilities. It also involves addressing the root causes of conflict, protecting human rights and improving people’s living conditions.
Cambodia takes over OIF leadership for the next two years
The summit also featured the handover of the OIF presidency, with France transferring leadership responsibilities to Cambodia, which will guide the organisation’s activities over the next two years.
The transition gives Cambodia a central role in steering the organisation’s programmes and activities as member states seek solutions to global challenges, including insecurity, conflicts, economic difficulties, inequality and youth unemployment.
The OIF brings together countries and regions that use French or have historical and cultural ties to the French language. Its mandate includes promoting the French language, cooperation among member states, democracy, human rights, peace and sustainable development.
The 20th Summit of Heads of State and Government provides an opportunity for member states to assess how the organisation can strengthen its contribution to international affairs while prioritising practical solutions to challenges affecting citizens, particularly young people seeking employment and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
