Macron seeks to keep DRC in Francophonie ahead of OIF secretary-general vote

Summit in Phnom Penh and the leadership issue

The summit of states belonging to the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) has begun in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. On Monday, participants are to elect the organisation's new secretary-general. The French side is actively lobbying to retain the membership of the largest African participant – the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – in this structure.

Conflict between Kinshasa and Kigali

The pressure from French President Emmanuel Macron is driven by the threat of the DRC leaving the OIF. The cause of the tension is a dispute over who should lead the union in the future. The position of secretary-general has been held since 2018 by Rwandan representative Louise Mushikiwabo, who is seeking a third term.

The DRC has threatened to leave the organisation if Mushikiwabo is re-elected. The Congolese side accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 armed group in the east of the country, although Rwanda denies these accusations.

Kinshasa's strategy and Rwanda's position

On Saturday, the DRC announced the withdrawal of its candidate for the post of secretary-general – 71-year-old Juliana Lumumba, daughter of national hero and independence fighter Patrice Lumumba. Instead, Kinshasa declared its support for the candidacy of former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş, in order to reach a "consensus around a unifying candidacy".

According to AFP, this proposal was formulated on the condition that Rwanda also withdraws its candidate. However, the Rwandan foreign minister emphasised that Louise Mushikiwabo remains in the race.

Significance of the DRC for Francophonie

The International Organisation of La Francophonie unites around 90 states and governments, of which 53 have full member status. The OIF includes countries where French is an official language, former French colonies, and other states with deep historical ties to France.

The departure of the DRC would be a serious blow to the organisation. According to OIF data, 57.3 million French-speaking residents live in the DRC, which is the second-largest figure after France. Last year, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso left the organisation, their membership having previously been suspended due to coups d'état.