Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has reaffirmed that Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo remains the country’s candidate to lead the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
Minister Nduhungirehe’s confirmation comes ahead of the OIF election scheduled for 16 November in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during the organisation’s 20th summit.
He was responding to questions about reports of diplomatic pressure on Rwanda to withdraw the candidacy.
Secretary-General Mushikiwabo seeks another term
Secretary-General Mushikiwabo is seeking a third four-year term, having first won election in 2018 and secured re-election in 2022. She began leading the organisation in January 2019.
The OIF’s official summit documents list four candidates for the 2027–2030 mandate: incumbent Secretary-General Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș, Mauritanian candidate Coumba Bâ and Congolese candidate Juliana Lumumba.
The four candidates presented their programmes to ministers from the organisation’s full members in Paris on 30 June. The formal hearings formed part of the selection process ahead of the summit.
Consensus remains the preferred procedure
The election will take place during a closed session of heads of state and government or their delegation representatives on 16 November.
The OIF’s election procedure gives priority to consensus. If members cannot reach agreement, the rules provide for a vote among full members present and voting.
The process applies the organisation’s unified rules adopted in March 2022, including a formal timetable, submission of candidates’ programmes and hearings before ministers.
Cambodia hosts the leadership decision
Cambodia will host the 20th Francophonie Summit on 15 and 16 November under a theme focused on peace, shared prosperity and lasting stability.
Alongside selecting the organisation’s next leader, participating governments will discuss crisis prevention, development and cooperation. The summit will also set the OIF’s priorities through 2030.
