The Francophone Ambassadors Group of Addis Ababa held a vibrant welcome cocktail event, reaffirming their commitment to fostering dialogue, solidarity, and the promotion of Francophone culture and values.
Nezha Alaoui M’hammdi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and President of the Group, warmly welcomed guests to the Moroccan Embassy, highlighting the spirit of hospitality and the dynamic energy that strengthens the Francophone community in Ethiopia’s capital.
The Francophone Ambassadors Group is much more than a diplomatic entity; it serves as a platform for dialogue and cooperation among the French-speaking diplomatic missions. Representing over sixty such groups worldwide, the Addis Ababa group engages on strategic topics such as human rights, peace operations, trade, sustainable development and climate change, digital governance, gender equality, youth empowerment, and the promotion of Francophone candidacies.
The current season was inaugurated with a distinguished guest, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General. His intervention underscored the ongoing vitality and relevance of the Group within Addis Ababa’s diplomatic landscape.
The evening’s gathering was designed as a convivial moment of friendship rather than formal debate, celebrating the French language, cultural exchange, and the joy of togetherness.
Two notable speeches punctuated the program: one by Néfertiti Mushiya Tshibanda, Permanent Representative of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) to the African Union and UNECA, and closing remarks by Nezha Alaoui M’hammdi.
Néfertiti Tshibanda expressed the hope that this evening would be dedicated to “Francophone fraternity and the celebration of cultural exchange that unites us, fosters dialogue among peoples, and brings nations ever closer together.”
In her address, Alaoui M’hammdi reflected on Africa’s rich cultural diversity, its linguistic mosaic, and its significant contributions to the Francophone world. She emphasized Ethiopia’s special role as host of the African Union and its historical and cultural heritage as a privileged partner in promoting Francophonie.
Morocco’s enduring commitment to Francophone values since joining the OIF in 1981 was highlighted, rooted in its dedication to cultural diversity, multilinguism, and international cooperation.
Quoting Léopold Sédar Senghor, the first African member of the French Academy and a key figure in Pan-Africanism and Francophonie, she evoked the idea of Francophonie as “integral Humanism” — a symbiosis uniting all continents and races in a shared cultural warmth.
The event illustrated the continuing strength of the Francophone network in Addis Ababa as a vibrant hub for cultural diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation advancing education, peace, and sustainable development across Africa.
