Chapter 02

La Francophonie & the Summits

What La Francophonie is, its founders and its four missions, and every summit from Paris 1986 to Phnom Penh 2026.

What is the Francophonie?

The Francophonie is first and foremost a group of women and men who share a common language, French. The latest report from the Observatoire de la langue française, published in 2026, estimates their number at 396 million speakers.

It is also an institutional framework dedicated to promoting French and implementing political, educational, economic, and cultural cooperation within the 90 member states and governments of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Founders of Francophonie

Habib BourguibaFormer President of Tunisia
Hamani DioriFormer President of Niger
Norodom SihanoukHis Majesty the late King Father of Cambodia
Léopold Sédar SenghorFormer President of Senegal

International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF)

Basic information

Date of creation: 20 March 1970
Founders: Léopold Sédar Senghor, former President of Senegal; Habib Bourguiba, former President of Tunisia; Hamani Diori, former President of Niger; and His Majesty the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia
Headquarters: Paris, France
Members: 90 member states and governments (53 full members, 5 associate members and 32 observers)

Objectives

Its mission is to build the active solidarity between its member states and governments, to contribute to improving the standard of living of its populations. It supports its members in the elaboration or consolidation of their policies and carries out activities of international politics and multilateral cooperation, in accordance with the four major missions drawn up by the Francophonie Summit.

Promote the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity
Promote peace, democracy and human rights
Support education, training, higher education and research
Develop cooperation for sustainable development

Promote the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity

Promote peace, democracy and human rights

Archival black-and-white photograph of a royal procession on foot, led by men in uniform

Develop cooperation for sustainable development

Support education, training, higher education and research

The Kingdom of Cambodia

Cambodia is honored to host the 20th Francophonie Summit for the first time in its history.

19th Francophonie Summit, Grand Palais, Paris, 5 October 2024

From 13–17 November 2026

Cambodia welcomes the world to the Village Francophone, the most vibrant and public-facing celebration of the 20th Francophonie Summit, under the theme:

«ស្នាមញញឹមខ្មែរនឹងក្លាយជាស្នាមញញឹមហ្វ្រង់កូហ្វូនី»
“The Khmer Smile will be the Smile of Francophonie”

Side Event of the 20th Francophonie Summit 2026

Set in the scenic Wat Botum Vatey Garden, this five-day event will transform the heart of Cambodia into a living showcase of culture, dialogue, and solidarity across the Francophone world with around 90 national pavilions, gastronomy, performances, and thematic events.