PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Senegal: President Hollande reminds African presidents about Burkina popular uprising
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – French president François Hollande on Saturday in Dakar warned African presidents, who want to cling in power, to be warned about events in Burkina Faso, which forced the departure of president Blaise Compaoré almost three weeks ago.
“What has just happened in Burkina Faso must warn those who want to remain in power. It is the voters who must decide the one who should exercise power,” he said at the opening of the 15th summit of the International Francophonie Organization (OIF).
According to president Hollande, OIF must defend the universal values of democracy and be aware of the respect of institutions and election rules.
"Defending French is also defending the universal values including democracy," he said before stressing the role played by Francophonie in the world.
"Defending Francophonie is preserving cultural diversity, it is considering that culture is a universal value, it is promoting linguistic pluralism," he said, adding that Francophonie must be the driving force behind that battle, particularly within international bodies.
Like almost all speakers, president Hollande paid glowing tribute to the outgoing OIF Secretary General, former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf.
"You show common sense, which has nothing to do with the age, an experience, a culture. You have done much for the French language, peace and democracy,” he told Diouf, who was emotional.
President Hollande also stressed French-African ties, saying that his country does not ask for any favour.
"France does not ask for any privilege. Our enterprises must be subjected to competition and must be treated like the others,” he said.
About the challenges which Africa is presently facing, President Hollande underlined the need to strengthen the fight against the deadly Ebola disease and terrorism, particularly in northern Mali and Nigeria.
"The countries affected by Ebola must live, trade with other countries and attract investments," he said, and announced that his country would set up treatment centres for aid workers treating the Ebola victims.
Ebola has killed more than 5,000 people with the epicenter being Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
-0- PANA AAS/IS/MSA/MA 29Nov2014
“What has just happened in Burkina Faso must warn those who want to remain in power. It is the voters who must decide the one who should exercise power,” he said at the opening of the 15th summit of the International Francophonie Organization (OIF).
According to president Hollande, OIF must defend the universal values of democracy and be aware of the respect of institutions and election rules.
"Defending French is also defending the universal values including democracy," he said before stressing the role played by Francophonie in the world.
"Defending Francophonie is preserving cultural diversity, it is considering that culture is a universal value, it is promoting linguistic pluralism," he said, adding that Francophonie must be the driving force behind that battle, particularly within international bodies.
Like almost all speakers, president Hollande paid glowing tribute to the outgoing OIF Secretary General, former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf.
"You show common sense, which has nothing to do with the age, an experience, a culture. You have done much for the French language, peace and democracy,” he told Diouf, who was emotional.
President Hollande also stressed French-African ties, saying that his country does not ask for any favour.
"France does not ask for any privilege. Our enterprises must be subjected to competition and must be treated like the others,” he said.
About the challenges which Africa is presently facing, President Hollande underlined the need to strengthen the fight against the deadly Ebola disease and terrorism, particularly in northern Mali and Nigeria.
"The countries affected by Ebola must live, trade with other countries and attract investments," he said, and announced that his country would set up treatment centres for aid workers treating the Ebola victims.
Ebola has killed more than 5,000 people with the epicenter being Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
-0- PANA AAS/IS/MSA/MA 29Nov2014
