User:Marieucl/sandbox/Alliance Française de Bangui

The Alliance Française de Bangui (AFB) is a non-governmental foundation ruled by private law and recognised as promoting the public interest. It is a part of the international network of The Fondation Alliance Française. Its overall mission is to promote French language and culture in the Central African Republic. The Alliance Française de Bangui employed approximately forty people who are responsible for the whole daily functioning.

I History

Implemented in 2013, this association replaced the Centre Culturel Français, partially destroyed during the so-called “events” of 1996 and closed soon after. The library has been renovated in 2019-2020. The AFB was opened according to a French Senate decision in 2013 but has also been compelled to close again for a few time in 2013 due to the so-called “events”.

II Organisation

The AFB is divided into three main sectors, all responsible for specific tasks. The first one is the administration which is in charge of classes’ registrations, the accounts department and the office of the Director. The second one is the library which proposes books for children and for adults. This was separated in two distinct parts before the renovations. All the books are in French and are accessible through a yearly cotisation of 2.000 FCFA. For the youngest public, activities are proposed according to a specific schedule. The third one is the languages and formations pole which is in charge of the classes’ as well as the administrative and academic management of the French language diploma (DELF). The whole preparation, organisation and gradings are organised there.

III Activities

The Fondation Alliance Française describes its own general action as having the goal to : “develop in the world the teaching and the use of French language, to contribute to increase the intellectual and moral influence of France and interests of all french-speaking cultures; to foster cultural exchanges and to generally contribute to the cultural diversity’s flourishing”. The activities are diverse and for all age categories. For children and teanagers, from a part recreational activities and access to the library are proposed and from another part, classes of French, informatics and sango are possible. For adults, there is an access to the library and the same classes’ offer. To complete the classes of French, register members have the possibility to register at the DELF and to have the necessary formation in order to be prepared for this unusual type of test. Subjects are sent by France but are corrected in the AFB with the help of the Cultural Service of the French Embassy of Bangui. The AFB also offers classes of Sango, mostly for expats who would like to learn the local language. Frequently, showings of movies, plays and conferences are organised. Notably, they have collaborated to produce the movie ‘Camille’ in tribute to the French reporter who was killed in an ambush in the hinterland in 2014 and have organised projections. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the AFB has distinguished itself in implementing a mask factory in the premises, destined to the population.

IV Involvement

The AFB has a main goal to promote French language and culture through the means of partnerships and cooperations. The first partnership is with Bibliothèque Sans Frontières which gave Kombooks to make books easier to access, particularly in isolated parts of the country. The second one is the fact that the AFB provides rooms for local artists to work as Didier Kassaï and the Editions Oubangui. The third one is its partnership with the Parisian Ateliers Varan which helps local filmmakers to produce documentaries or movies. The fourth and last is the organisation of the Entrepreneurs' Days (Journées des Entrepreneurs) which welcomes french-speaking businessmen to promote their goods or services.

V Directors

Since the reopening of the AFB, the directors have been the following :


 * François Wittersheim (2020-)
 * Olivier Colin (2016-2020)
 * François Gros Jean (2013-2016)