France’s Ambassador to Ghana responds to questions about her loyalty over Senegalese roots
France’s Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dimé-Labille, has responded to recurring questions about her loyalty to France because of her Senegalese background, insisting that her responsibility as a public servant is to represent and serve the French Republic.
The ambassador addressed the issue during an interview on TV3’s Today’s Woman programme on October 8, 2026, where she spoke about her background, diplomatic responsibilities and the relationship between France and African countries.
According to Dimé-Labille, she is frequently asked how she would respond if France and Senegal found themselves on opposing sides of an international issue.
She said her position as a French civil servant made her responsibility clear.
“I’m serving my country, and the country I’m serving is France. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be a civil servant,” she said.
The ambassador explained that although she is proud of her Senegalese roots, her background should not be interpreted as a reason to question her professional commitment to France.
She also suggested that the recurring questions about her loyalty could distract from the more important role she hopes to play in strengthening diplomatic relations between countries.
Dimé-Labille said she had occasionally responded to the hypothetical question by joking that she would move to Switzerland if France and Senegal ever faced a situation that placed her in such a difficult position.
However, she stressed that her main focus was on using her diplomatic position to improve relations between France and other countries rather than repeatedly defending her loyalty.
For her, her background should be viewed as an advantage that could help her understand different perspectives and contribute to stronger international relationships.
The ambassador also called for clearer communication about France’s engagement with African countries, including a better understanding of the historical context and the direction of its present-day partnerships.
Her comments come at a time when France’s relations with African countries continue to attract attention, particularly over historical grievances, economic cooperation and the future of diplomatic partnerships.
Ghana has been active in international discussions on reparatory justice, seeking recognition of the lasting consequences of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Dimé-Labille has previously said France remains open to dialogue with Ghana on reparatory justice and has made commitments to guide its future engagement on the issue.
France and Ghana have also been working to strengthen cooperation in areas including health, security, trade and education.
At a reception for the French and business communities in Accra on October 8, the ambassador said relations between the two countries were growing stronger through political engagement, investment and cooperation in several areas of mutual interest.
Dimé-Labille’s remarks on her Senegalese background therefore come against the broader context of France’s evolving engagement with African countries and the diplomatic challenges associated with its historical and contemporary relationships on the continent.
She maintained that her priority was to use her position to build stronger relationships between France and its partners, including Ghana.
Her response reinforces the distinction between personal heritage and professional responsibility, while highlighting the potential value of cultural understanding in international diplomacy.
Source: Thepressradio.com
