Hanoi looks as if it ought to speak French, and Vietnam does boast 500, 000 francophones.

ECONOMIST: French blows its horn | The

Senegal suggests that Africa should have two seats, one for Francophones, the other for English speakers.

ECONOMIST: Africa wants a seat, but can't agree who should sit in it

This infuriates the francophones, since they are quite sure the officials behind the counter can speak French.

ECONOMIST: Rows over who should speak in which tongue have got worse