The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, has stated that Rwandan national Louise Mushikiwabo has every chance of being re-elected as Secretary General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an organization that brings together French-speaking countries.
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Contenders for the Top OIF Post
Mushikiwabo, who has led the organization since January 2019, is competing against Juliana Amato Lumumba from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Coumba Bâ from Mauritania, and Dacian Cioloș from Romania.
Her competitors, including Juliana and Cioloș, have held various positions in their respective countries and at the international level. This has encouraged them to seek leadership of the organization because they believe they have the necessary capacity and experience.
Coumba Bâ has also held several positions in the Mauritanian government, including serving as Minister of National Administration and Youth. Since 2024, she has been serving as the President’s Special Envoy in charge of matters related to the OIF.
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Key Achievements Driving Re-election Prospects
Minister Nduhungirehe stated that Mushikiwabo has every chance of being re-elected because of the many achievements she has brought to the organization, particularly in political and financial governance.
He said, “Louise Mushikiwabo has every chance of being re-elected as Secretary-General of the Francophonie because she has completely reformed the organization in terms of its political governance and financial management.”
Minister Nduhungirehe explained that Mushikiwabo found the OIF facing several challenges, which she addressed. He said she strengthened the organization and provided a clear direction to its programmes, including those aimed at promoting young people and women.
He said, “The organization was facing challenges before she arrived, but she reformed everything, strengthened the organization, and gave its programmes a clear direction… She has developed this organization in a remarkable way.”
Standing Out at Candidate Presentations
On June 30, 2026, Mushikiwabo and the other candidates competing for the position travelled to Paris, France, where they presented their plans for the organization to ministers from member countries in case they are elected.
Minister Nduhungirehe explained that, based on what was observed during the presentation of the candidates’ plans and programmes for leading the OIF, Mushikiwabo stood out from the other candidates because her achievements spoke for themselves and because she presented concrete plans.
He said, “What was clear among the ministers and independent experts was that Mushikiwabo stood out above all the other candidates because her achievements spoke for themselves, and the projects she presented were concrete and aligned with the direction that the Francophonie should take.”
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Campaign Progress and Upcoming Summit
Countries with candidates competing for the leadership of the OIF are continuing to campaign for them and seeking support from friendly countries. Minister Nduhungirehe said that the campaign for Mushikiwabo is progressing well.
He said, “The campaign activities we are carrying out for her are also going well, and we strongly believe that she will win.”
For details regarding upcoming events or election procedures, check the Official Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie Portal.
