Ebola dominates agenda at French-speaking countries’ summit

Ebola Outbreak

Leaders from 77 French-speaking countries met in Senegal for a two-day summit. But this summit, which was also called the Francophone Summit, is at a crossroads. With a majority youthful population, economic and security problems, its influence has gradually waned. CCTV America’s Robert Nagila reported from Dakar, Senegal.

It was supposed to be a decisive moment for the 15th Francophone heads of state summit. The election of a new secretary general and a new agenda for women and youth empowerment were set to dominate the summit. However, the dynamics of the summit have changed by the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

“The summit is happening when the region has been affected by Ebola. I am calling on the region to come together to fight Ebola,” Senegalese President Macky Sall said.

The organization earlier promised solidarity with Ebola-affected countries by lifting travel restrictions on Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. That has yet to happen. Critics have also lashed out at the groups week economic policies.

This was to be addressed Sunday when Senegal hosted the Francophone Economic Forum.