Madar (Nouakchott) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug attended on Saturday, 14 November 2026, in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, the opening of the 48th session of the Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the Mauritanian News Agency (AMI) reported.
According to the agency, the session, held in preparation for the 20th Francophonie summit, is reviewing the implementation of commitments made at the 19th summit and preparing the organisation's upcoming milestones.
In a speech at the opening session, Ould Merzoug said that holding the ministerial conference and the 20th summit in Phnom Penh "reflects the influence of the OIF and its firmly rooted presence in various regions of the world". He praised the report presented by France on the implementation of the 19th summit's commitments, saying its findings "provide an important basis for consolidating gains" and for building a Francophone space that is "more united, dynamic and effective".
The minister reaffirmed, according to the same source, Mauritania's commitment to keep contributing to this momentum and to turn the decisions of Francophonie summits into "practical and sustainable measures" serving the French language, cultural diversity and the peoples of the Francophone world, stressing the importance of collective mobilisation, regular dialogue and solidarity among member states and governments.
Also attending the opening were Mauritania's ambassador to Cambodia, the country's representative to the OIF and several of the minister's advisers and ministry directors.
The ministerial conference follows President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani's arrival in Phnom Penh on Saturday morning for the 20th Francophonie summit.
