By Jean-Pierre A.*
Ahead of the election of the Francophonie’s Secretary-General in November this year, two African candidates from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have officially expressed their interest in running for the high-level position, in what appears to be a geopolitical rivalry and a contest for international influence.
In late February, the DRC government nominated Juliana Lumumba, the daughter of the country’s first prime minister and independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, to challenge the incumbent, Louise Mushikiwabo from Rwanda, who is seeking a third term.
While it is normal for anyone qualified and interested in the diplomatic role in the French-speaking countries’ organisation (OIF) to vie for the competitive job, some observers see the two prominent women’s candidacies as a continuation of rivalries between two countries from the Great Lakes region of Africa. The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting rebels in the volatile eastern provinces. Kigali has always denied the accusations, saying it has set up what it describes as “defensive measures.”
The two neighbouring countries have also continued to take their rivalry to the international scene amid mediation efforts to end the conflict in Eastern DRC. For instance, Kinshasa campaigned against European football clubs marketing tourism partnerships with Kigali. However, later Kinshasa also signed partnership agreements with some European football clubs to market the mineral-rich country.
Now, amid campaigns and lobbying for the Secretary-General position, the incumbent said she will seek re-election for the job she has held for two terms. The diplomat was quoted as saying, “The election will be tough.”
In a recent interview with TV5, an international francophone TV affiliate of the OIF, Mushikiwabo confirmed she is seeking re-election. “I am one of the candidates, and I am happy to run again for the post of Secretary-General.” The Rwandan diplomat added that she knows there are other francophone individuals who are qualified to lead the organisation she heads.
The DRC is campaigning for Lumumba, a former minister of culture, marking Kinshasa’s most important international diplomatic move in recent years. According to the DRC government, its candidacy “was part of Congo’s ambition to contribute to the renewal and global influence of the Francophone space.”
The DRC is the country with the largest French-speaking community by population. The country hosted the Games of La Francophonie in 2023, cementing its role in the global organisation.
The Secretary-General is elected every four years. The election takes place during a Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Francophonie. This year, it will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. According to the incumbent, so far four candidates have expressed interest in the job she currently holds. The deadline for candidature submission is 15 May.
Both Mushikiwabo and Lumumba are prominent leaders and intellectuals with high profiles in various leadership roles.
Mushikiwabo was first elected to the Secretary-General position at the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, in October 2018, and then re-elected at the 18th Summit in Djerba, Tunisia, in November 2022.
She is the fourth Secretary-General and the incumbent. An experienced diplomat, she previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda from 2009 to 2018. She also served as Government Spokesperson and had previously been Minister of Information. Mushikiwabo speaks fluent French, English, and Kinyarwanda. She was one of the longest-serving ministers of Foreign Affairs in Rwanda.
Mushikiwabo attended the University of Rwanda and the University of Delaware in the United States of America. Currently, the Rwandan government is backing her candidacy for a third term. Recently, Kigali sent a delegation to Congo-Brazzaville to rally support from President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Mushikiwabo will also capitalise on her experience in the organisation she has led for two consecutive terms.
Her challenger, Lumumba, is also an accomplished leader on both the local and international scene. She has more than 30 years of experience in public governance, cultural diplomacy, and international cooperation. “By putting forward Lumumba, the DRC is contributing to a Francophonie that is more united, inclusive, and closer to its people,” Crispin Mbadu Phanzu, Minister Delegate in charge of Francophonie and the Congolese Diaspora, was quoted as saying.
Lumumba is a graduate of the prestigious EHESS, a graduate-only research institution in Paris, France, focused on social sciences, and previously served as Vice-Minister and later Minister of Culture in the DRC (1997–2001).
In addition to government roles, Lumumba has led enterprises in consulting, communication, and international trade. From 2007 to 2015, she served as Secretary-General of the Union of African Chambers of Commerce in Cairo.
Since 2015, she has been active as an international speaker on issues including women’s economic participation, African entrepreneurship, continental integration, and development reform. She is multilingual—speaking French, English, Kiswahili, Lingala, and Arabic.
Kinshasa believes Lumumba’s candidacy is an ambition to “strengthen Africa’s voice within global institutions and promote a Francophonie capable of addressing digital, cultural, and economic transitions of the 21st century.”
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), which is headquartered in Paris, France, consists of 90 states and governments (53 members, 7 associate members, and 27 observers). The organisation is influential in international relations and cooperation across French-speaking countries globally.
*Culled from April Edition of PAV Magazine
