The Francophonie summit opened in Phnom Penh on Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for “unity” and “consensus” a day before members choose a secretary-general, in a contest split by the conflict between DR Congo and Rwanda.
Rwanda’s Louise Mushikiwabo, who has led the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) since 2019, is seeking a third term. DR Congo, which accuses Kigali of backing the M23 rebels in its eastern provinces, opposes her reappointment, and the dispute now shapes a vote for one of the main posts in French-speaking diplomacy.
Who is standing at the Francophonie summit?
Four candidates are in the race: Ms Mushikiwabo; Juliana Lumumba, a former Congolese minister and daughter of independence leader Patrice Lumumba; Dacian Cioloș, a former Romanian prime minister; and Coumba Ba, a former Mauritanian minister, RFI reported. The name of the next secretary-general is due on Monday 16 November, according to TV5Monde.
Consensus is the traditional way of choosing the OIF’s leader, a method Canada also favours. Since 2022 the rules have allowed a simple majority vote when no consensus emerges, TV5Monde said. Three of the four secretaries-general since the post was created in 1997 have come from Africa, according to France 24.
On Saturday Kinshasa said it was ready to withdraw Ms Lumumba’s candidacy “to favour the emergence of a consensus” and to consider a joint approach in favour of Mr Cioloș, as DNE Africa reported. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported on Sunday that DR Congo had withdrawn its candidate. RFI described the step as an offer. No final withdrawal had been published by the OIF by Sunday afternoon.
What did Macron and Kigali say?
Opening the twentieth Francophonie summit, Mr Macron said members must “build consensus to preserve unity” and that the organisation “we want is not a Francophonie of withdrawal or internal fractures”, according to RFI (quotes translated from French). He asked the three African countries with candidates, DR Congo, Rwanda and Mauritania, to consult each other and reach “a consensual solution”, the Élysée said, as quoted by TV5Monde.
Rwanda has refused to step aside. On Saturday it denounced “pressure” from Paris and said it had rejected a request from Mr Macron to withdraw Ms Mushikiwabo, TV5Monde reported. Foreign minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said she would stay in the race to the end and criticised Kinshasa’s support for a non-African candidate.
Jeune Afrique reported, citing its own information, a heated exchange between Mr Macron and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in a closed session on Sunday. Neither presidency has commented publicly on that account.
Why does the Congo-Rwanda conflict hang over the Francophonie summit?
DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, which seized Goma and Bukavu in the east in early 2025. UN experts and the United States have made the same accusation, which Kigali denies. Kinshasa has threatened to leave the OIF if Ms Mushikiwabo is re-elected, TV5Monde reported.
Patrick Muyaya, the Congolese government spokesman, criticised Ms Mushikiwabo’s opening speech for citing conflicts in Lebanon and Haiti without mentioning eastern DR Congo. “After eight years, this contempt contrary to the founding values of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie can no longer continue,” he said, according to Actualite.cd (translated from French). The OIF secretariat had not responded publicly by Sunday afternoon.
The summit’s official theme is “reinvesting in peace for shared prosperity and lasting stability”, according to the OIF. Morocco is represented by Fatima Zahra Mansouri on behalf of King Mohammed VI, Hespress reported. Mr Cioloș has courted African members, including with an offer of 1,709 scholarships for African students.
What happens next?
Heads of state and government are expected to name the secretary-general on Monday, either by consensus or, failing that, by majority vote. A Mushikiwabo win would test Kinshasa’s threat to leave. Her defeat would end Rwanda’s eight-year hold on the post.
FAQ
When does the Francophonie summit choose its secretary-general?
The decision is expected on Monday 16 November in Phnom Penh, according to TV5Monde.
Who are the candidates at the Francophonie summit?
Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, Juliana Lumumba of DR Congo, Dacian Cioloș of Romania and Coumba Ba of Mauritania, RFI reported.
Has DR Congo withdrawn its candidate?
Kinshasa said it was ready to withdraw Juliana Lumumba to favour a consensus. Al Jazeera reported the withdrawal; the OIF had not confirmed it by Sunday afternoon.
Does Rwanda back the M23 rebels?
DR Congo, UN experts and the United States say it does. Rwanda denies supporting the group.
