In an interview in Luanda as part of the 50th anniversary of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), set up on 20 March 1970 in Niamey (Niger), Moroccan diplomat Saadia El Alaoui recalled that Angola has already applied for membership as an observer member of the OIF and hopes that this will be achieved "as soon as possible".
The ambassador pointed out historical and geographical reasons that explain that Angola is "among the Lusophone countries the most Francophone," with 15 percent of the population, or 4.5 million people, who speak or understand French, noting that Francophony is a reality already present in Angola.
"We find the Frenchman in every corner, in every street," stressed Saadia El Alaoui, indicating that Angola's exchange with the French-speaking world is already "enormous", whether in terms of migration, cultural traditions or economic aspects.
"In addition to the political and cultural dimension, the francophony is also part of an economic agenda with aspects that benefit the countries of the francophone area," the diplomat stressed, adding that the "networks of south-south cooperation" are "relevant to all African countries.
Angola shares a border with four countries, Namibia, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, the latter two being French-speaking countries which share the largest border area with Angola.
On 17 May 2019, in Paris, France, the executive made official the country's candidacy for observer membership of the OIF.
At the time, Foreign Minister Manuel Augusto explained that the intention was based on the fact that the country had privileged relations with French-speaking countries and wanted to strengthen integration with the French-speaking community.
In July last year, the French ambassador accredited in Luanda, Sylvain Itté, announced that Angola could soon be admitted to the OIF during the 19th summit of heads of state and government of this bloc, to be held at the end of the year in the Tunisian capital, Tunis.
The IOF currently has 56 member states and 14 observers.
French is currently spoken by some 300 million people, and by 2050 this figure is expected to rise to 715 million French speakers, 500 million of whom will be Africans.
The Group of Francophone Ambassadors was created in Luanda last year with the aim of organising exchanges, accompanying the Angolan authorities in the implementation of the francophone commitments of Angola and promoting francophony at political, economic, ethical, cultural, linguistic and educational levels.
