OIF: Romanian candidate Dacian Cioloș launches his African campaign from Dakar

As part of his candidacy for the position of Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Dacian Cioloș made an official visit to Senegal, the first stop on his tour of sub-Saharan Africa. This visit is part of a process of dialogue and consultation with the member states and governments of La Francophonie, aimed at sharing his vision for the future of the organization and gathering the expectations of its partners.

On this occasion, a cocktail reception was held in Dakar, attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, academia, and the business community. This meeting allowed the Romanian candidate to present the main points of his program for the Francophonie. Dacian Cioloș, former Prime Minister of Romania from 2015 to 2017, was accompanied by a delegation that included Mr. Irinel Darău, Romanian Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism, and Mr. Ciprian Mihali, Personal Representative for the Francophonie of the President of Romania, H.E. Nicușor Dan.

During his speech, Dacian Cioloș emphasized the symbolic significance of choosing Dakar for the official launch of his candidacy. According to him, Senegal holds a special place in the history, present, and future of the Francophonie. He paid a heartfelt tribute to Léopold Sédar Senghor, one of the founding fathers of the Francophonie, as well as to Abdou Diouf, former Secretary General of the OIF, whose work has left a lasting mark on the institution: "It was impossible to officially launch my candidacy for the leadership of the OIF in Senegal without paying tribute to Léopold Sédar Senghor," he declared, affirming his intention to base his actions on the spirit of a Francophonie of dialogue, cultural diversity, and cooperation among peoples.

The Romanian candidate also praised Senegal's current role in promoting development, education, innovation, peace, and economic growth within the Francophone community. He asserted that the future of the Francophonie must be built with Africa at the heart of its project, while involving all member regions in a shared dynamic.

Present alongside him, Minister Irinel Darău emphasized the importance of the Francophonie as a platform for economic and tourism diplomacy. He highlighted the considerable potential of the African continent and the need to strengthen economic partnerships between Africa and the other member states of the organization. For his part, Mr. Ciprian Mihali, former Romanian ambassador to Senegal, recalled the legacy left by Léopold Sédar Senghor and Abdou Diouf within the Francophonie. He stressed that this legacy constituted a collective responsibility and called for an ambitious vision for the future of the organization. He also commended the Senegalese people for their wisdom, hospitality, and openness.

At the heart of his speech, Dacian Cioloș presented his vision of a "courageous, pragmatic, modern, inclusive, and forward-looking Francophonie." This vision is structured around five main priorities: modern, transparent, and accountable governance; a Francophonie of economic opportunities; youth as the driving force of the Francophone future; sustainable development; and a particular focus on agriculture and food security.