of Ambassadors at the Elysée Palace, Paris, Monday, August 27, 2012)
***
Some Congolese opposition parties--chief among them, the UDPS--were
campaigning for the delocalization of the Summit of Francophony, which
will be held in Kinshasa in mid-October.
A stupid strategy, if you ask me. For what better platform for the
opposition to voice its grievances than the Summit of Francophony?
Besides, at a time when the country is being attacked by Rwanda, you'd
think that the political class would show some maturity by presenting
a solid common front.
Instead of which some opposition leaders flooded the Kinshasa French
Embassy with petitions and memos demanding that the Summit be
delocalized to another African capital!
Maybe these slow-witted pols misconstrued the gathering as an
international plebiscitary summit of the Kabila regime under the aegis
of France, instead of construing it as the pride of an entire nation
hosting such a prestigious worldwide event.
Well, this past Monday, at the 20th Conference of (French)
Ambassadors, François Hollande dashed the opposition wish for
delocalizing the Summit while jabbing at the Kabila administration.
Said Hollande:
"I will be heading in a few weeks to the Summit of Francophony in
Kinshasa. I will reaffirm there that the Francophony is not simply
language sharing, it is also a community of principles and ideals, and
reminding those on every occasion is necessary, especially in the
Democratic Republic of Congo."
Hollande added he'll also be meeting with Congolese opposition and
civil society leaders.
I can safely predict that Etienne Tshisekedi won't certainly be among
those opposition leaders Hollande will be meeting in Kinshasa.
As one diplomat recently told me, by proclaiming himself president of
the republic, Tshisekedi has turned "radioactive" and, hence,
"irrelevant."
***
PHOTO CREDITS: MAE/F. de La Mure
Via: diplomatie.gouv.fr
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