Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, has reaffirmed her commitment and enthusiasm to continue serving the organisation, saying she remains proud of the progress made during her tenure while acknowledging that significant work still lies ahead. Her remarks come as Rwanda has nominated her for another term as OIF Secretary-General ahead of elections scheduled for 16 November 2026 during the 20th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In an interview with Africa 24 Television, Mushikiwabo reflected on her leadership journey, key achievements since taking office and how her personal experiences have shaped her ability to lead an organisation comprising 93 member states, including 56 full members, five associate members and 32 observers. Elected in October 2018 and re-elected in 2022, Mushikiwabo became the first African woman to hold the position of OIF Secretary-General. She explained that from the beginning of her mandate, she was determined to perform her duties effectively while making Africa proud, having received broad support from the continent for her candidacy.
She said: “Yes, I am the first woman to lead this organization. I entered the leadership of La Francophonie with the goal of bringing pride to Africa because the entire continent supported me. I wanted to carry out my responsibilities successfully, while ensuring that Africa, which helped elevate me to this position, could also take pride in my work,” She noted that this sense of responsibility motivated her to persevere, even during challenging times. Although satisfied with the organisation’s progress, she said she does not consider its achievements sufficient.
OIF Records Governance and Operational Improvements
Among the achievements she highlighted was strengthening the organisation’s focus on delivering tangible results for citizens, particularly young people and women across French-speaking countries. Mushikiwabo explained that although she was familiar with La Francophonie through her previous role as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, she gained a fuller understanding of the organisation’s operations only after assuming leadership. This, she said, revealed numerous opportunities for growth and innovation.
Determined to take the organisation to a higher level, she sought to make use of opportunities available across its more than 90 member and observer countries. She said: “I was determined to succeed. Today, I am proud that our organization is in a strong position,” She also pointed to improvements in financial management, better monitoring of member-state contributions and increased financial participation by member countries, particularly those in the Global South.
According to Mushikiwabo, the organisation had gone 13 years without a comprehensive review and reform of its contribution management system. Consequently, extensive advocacy efforts, official visits and discussions with heads of state were undertaken to address the challenges. She further noted that the OIF has gained greater visibility and influence internationally. Referring to a recent session of the United Nations General Assembly, she said activities organised by the organisation attracted participants from diverse countries and cultural backgrounds.
Despite the progress achieved, Mushikiwabo stressed that more work remains to expand opportunities for young people and women across the Francophone world. she said: “I love what I do, and I say it often. I still have a lot of energy to serve this organization,”
