Morocco's Head of Government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, arrived in Phnom Penh on Saturday 14 November to represent King Mohammed VI at the 20th Francophonie Summit, which takes place on 15 and 16 November in the Cambodian capital.
At Techo International Airport she was welcomed by Un Kheang, Secretary of State at Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and by Abderrahim Rahhaly, Morocco's ambassador to Thailand and Cambodia.
A summit under the banner of peace
This edition is held under the theme "Reinvesting in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability." It will bring together the heads of state and government of the 90 member states and governments of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
As the organisation's highest-level body, the summit sets the strategic priorities of French-speaking cooperation. With one year left before the end of the 2024-2027 programming cycle, leaders are expected to assess the results achieved so far and to discuss the place of the OIF in a multilateral system that is being reshaped.
Three decisions on the agenda
The two days of talks should produce three main outcomes:
- the election of the next Secretary-General of La Francophonie, who will serve a four-year term covering 2027-2030;
- the adoption of the Phnom Penh Declaration, together with several resolutions;
- the choice of the date and venue of the 21st Summit, planned for 2028.
The election of the Secretary-General is the most closely watched item, since the person chosen will lead the organisation's administration and represent it internationally throughout the next programming period.
Moroccan Culture Days, ahead of the summit
Morocco prepared the ground with cultural events in the Cambodian capital. On 11 and 12 November, the Moroccan Embassy, in coordination with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), organised Moroccan Culture Days to mark 30 years of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Cambodia, Yabiladi reports.
The event opened at the Chaktomuk Theatre, in the presence of Cambodia's Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Phoeurng Sackona. The programme included a photography exhibition titled "Treasures of Morocco", books about the country, tourism displays, calligraphy and henna workshops, and a space dedicated to Moroccan tea. The opening ceremony mixed Andalusian and Cambodian music.
Nearly 200 guests attended a reception at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, including Cambodian officials from the foreign affairs, culture and tourism sectors, diplomats and local figures. On 12 November, two conferences addressed the "New Morocco" and the preservation and promotion of Moroccan cultural heritage.
Morocco also took part in the official opening of the Francophonie Village, presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and attended by OIF Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo. The Moroccan pavilion, which showcases the country's heritage, traditions and tourism offering, will remain open until 15 November.
Why it matters for Morocco
For Rabat, the summit is an opportunity to appear alongside the other member states at a moment when the organisation is reflecting on its role. It also lets the Kingdom strengthen its relations with Cambodia, whose three decades of diplomatic ties were celebrated this week, and with the many delegations present in Phnom Penh.
The programme of the Head of Government in the Cambodian capital has not been detailed beyond her arrival. The official outcomes of the summit, including the name of the future Secretary-General and the host of the 2028 edition, are expected at the close of the proceedings on 16 November.
Main image: the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh (file photo) — Hanay, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
