On Monday, Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti welcomed Dacian Cioloș, advisor to the Romanian President and candidate for the position of Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), at the ministry's headquarters. This meeting takes place in the run-up to the elections scheduled for the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 15-16, 2026.
During the meeting, Minister Nafti praised the strong friendship and cooperation ties between Tunisia and Romania, particularly in the academic and university fields. He expressed Tunisia's desire to further enhance economic cooperation and increase trade exchanges between the two countries by encouraging visits, missions, and economic forums.
The Tunisian minister highlighted his country's importance to the OIF, as a founding member, and its commitment to the principles on which the organization was established. These principles include respect for cultural diversity, equality, and the empowerment of youth and women.
Minister Nafti emphasized Tunisia's wish for the OIF to continue playing its role as a constructive consultation platform and to strengthen its contribution to developing cooperation frameworks in cultural, economic, and development areas. This should serve the interests of the peoples of the Francophone space while respecting the specificities and diverse experiences of member states.
The minister also recalled Tunisia's ongoing contribution to Francophone work, including hosting the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba in November 2022. The summit focused on digital transformation as a driver of development in the Francophone space.
Dacian Cioloș praised the historical relations between Tunisia and Romania and reaffirmed Romania's commitment to further developing bilateral cooperation and strengthening partnerships between universities and economic institutions in both countries. He also expressed support for cooperation programs within the OIF.
Cioloș outlined his vision for the OIF, focusing on diversity and integration between cultures and peoples within the Francophone space. He emphasized that, if elected, he would work to strengthen the organization's role and relationships with member states, particularly African countries, and develop economic and development initiatives.
Key points
- Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti met with Romanian candidate Dacian Cioloș for the position of OIF Secretary General.
- The meeting discussed enhancing cooperation between Tunisia and Romania and the role of the OIF in promoting cultural and economic development.
- The 20th Francophonie Summit will take place in Cambodia on November 15-16, 2026, where the new Secretary General will be elected.
