Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada, was selected by consensus as the new Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) at its 15th Summit, held in Dakar, Senegal from 29-30 November. She will be the first woman to lead the organization of French-speaking nations, which includes 57 members or associates and another 20 observers. Ms. Jean, who is also of Haitian origin, will take over from outgoing Secretary General Abdou Diouf, of Senegal, in January 2015.