Mauritanian candidate Dr. Coumba Bâ campaigns in Southeast Asia for Francophonie leadership
via Abidjan.net9 min read
Dr. Coumba Bâ, Mauritania's candidate for the International Organization of La Francophonie OIF chancellery, has embarked on a strategic diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia. Ahead of the Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the former minister and diplomat visited Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. This initiative aims to broaden the Francophonie's appeal beyond African or regional contexts, emphasizing its universal and multipolar nature. In Cambodia, the Mauritanian delegation advocated for a more unified Francophonie that supports member states during crises and promotes cultural heritage in the digital age. In Vietnam, discussions focused on talent mobility, scientific cooperation, and technological innovation, positioning Hanoi as a key hub in the Asian Francophone space. In Laos, Dr. Coumba Bâ highlighted the importance of recognizing Francophone Asia as a region of future growth, not a peripheral area. Her campaign emphasizes Mauritania's historical doctrine of constructive neutrality and non-alignment, positioning the country as a bridge between the Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab world. The campaign team stresses that the Phnom Penh Summit should foster unity within the Francophonie, rather than becoming a platform for geopolitical confrontation. Mauritania plans to intensify its diplomacy through dialogue, results-oriented approaches, and inclusive consultation leading up to the final vote for the Secretary-General's renewal.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Abidjan.net.
The Chinese Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire hosted an official reception on July 22, 2026, in Abidjan, to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army PLA. The event brought together Ivorian military authorities, diplomats, and other guests to discuss strengthening Sino-Ivorian relations in defense and security. Chinese Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, Wu Jie, highlighted the PLA's transformation into a modern army dedicated to national sovereignty and international stability since its creation in 1927 under the Communist Party of China. He emphasized China's role as a global peace partner, development contributor, and defender of international order, noting the Chinese army's active participation in international security cooperation. Ambassador Wu also mentioned the 70th anniversary of Sino-African diplomatic relations in 2026 and Beijing's new initiatives for the continent, including zero customs tariffs for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China, effective May 1. He expressed confidence that aligning China's 15th Five-Year Plan with Côte d'Ivoire's National Development Plan PND 2026-2030 will expand bilateral cooperation. Colonel-Major Yan Lei, Defense Attaché at the Chinese Embassy, underscored the strategic importance of a strong army for national development, echoing Chinese President Xi Jinping's view that "only a strong army can guarantee the security of the country." He cited the PLA's contributions to UN peacekeeping ope
Must ReadOrange Bank Africa OBA and the Société de Garantie des Crédits aux PME SGPME signed two partnership agreements on July 23, 2026, to mobilize up to 17 billion FCFA in financing for Ivorian very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises VSEs/SMEs and intermediate-sized enterprises ETIs. Of this amount, 4 billion FCFA is specifically allocated to women's entrepreneurship. The agreements were signed during OBA's 6th anniversary celebration. Audrey Koffi, Director General of Orange Bank Africa, highlighted that the primary challenge for many of these businesses is access to financing, and these conventions aim to address that. Joëlle Kouassi, Director General of SGPME, explained that SGPME, an entity established by the Ivorian state to support SME financing, will guarantee these credits at a minimum of 50% and up to 70%. This initiative, supported by the French Development Agency and the World Bank, seeks to enhance financial inclusion and economic growth through digital financing.
Must ReadA National Security Council CNS meeting, chaired by President Alassane Ouattara on Thursday, July 23, 2026, reviewed Côte d'Ivoire's general security situation. The Council commended the results in combating illegal gold mining, attributing success to the Special Group for the Fight Against Illegal Gold Mining GS-LOI, established in 2021. From 2021 to the first half of 2026, over 8,500 illegal gold mining sites were dismantled nationwide. Operations led to the prosecution of 4,474 individuals, 65% of whom were foreign nationals, and the seizure of over 960 million FCFA and approximately 136 kilograms of gold. Various equipment used in these illicit activities were confiscated and destroyed. Despite these encouraging outcomes, the CNS noted the persistence and expansion of illegal gold mining in several regions, considering it a serious threat to the environment, national security, natural resources, and the Ivorian economy. President Ouattara instructed Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé to intensify efforts against this phenomenon, emphasizing stronger accountability for administrative, traditional, and customary authorities, as well as defense and security forces, particularly through departmental security committees and civil-military cells under prefects. The President also called for increased collaboration with diplomatic representations of the illegal miners' countries of origin for awareness campaigns and repatriation. The Council stressed strict enforcement of repres