Monaco helps select next Francophonie Secretary-General
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Monaco's foreign minister joined delegations in Paris to interview candidates for the leadership of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
On 7 July 2026, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Monaco's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, represented the Principality at an unprecedented public hearing of candidates standing for Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). She was joined by Ambassador Valérie Bruell-Melchior, Monaco's personal representative to the OIF.
The session, chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sokhonn Prak, saw delegations question the shortlisted candidates, among them Dr Coumba Ba of Mauritania. The hearing marks a significant procedural shift for the OIF, which has not previously subjected leadership candidates to open scrutiny of this kind before a vote.
Monaco has long maintained an active role within the Francophonie, reflecting both its French-language heritage and its broader commitment to multilateral diplomacy. The Principality's presence at ministerial level signals the weight it attaches to the outcome of this succession process.