In a report published on November 13, Jeune Afrique revealed that Macron had written to Kagame proposing Mushikiwabo’s withdrawal, reportedly assuring him that the DRC and Mauritania would also withdraw their candidates in favour of Ciolo\u0219.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed arrangement was presented as a way of securing consensus around a “compromise” candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A day later, Kinshasa announced Lumumba’s withdrawal and endorsed the Romanian contender, marking a significant development in the reported diplomatic initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its statement issued in Phnom Penh during the 48th session of the Francophonie Ministerial Conference, the Congolese government said the decision was intended to encourage a joint candidacy and build consensus among member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It emphasised that the withdrawal did not reflect doubts about Lumumba’s credentials, competence or commitment, while calling on other candidates and their supporting countries to demonstrate similar openness to compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rwanda, however, has maintained Mushikiwabo’s candidacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rwanda insists on election rules<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the centre of the disagreement is the procedure for selecting the next Secretary-General.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The OIF’s Unified Rules of Procedure, adopted in 2022, provide for consensus as the first approach. If member states fail to reach agreement, the selection proceeds to a vote, with a simple majority of states present and voting determining the winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each member state has one vote, regardless of its population or economic size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The provision could work in Mushikiwabo’s favour should the process proceed to voting. Africa accounts for 27 of the OIF’s 53 full members entitled to vote, giving the continent a narrow majority and considerable influence over the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although African countries are not guaranteed to vote as a single bloc, their combined numbers make them central to the outcome. Mushikiwabo could therefore have a stronger electoral position if consensus fails and member states resort to a vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The contest has consequently become about more than the individual candidates. It also raises questions about whether the organisation’s leadership should emerge through procedures agreed upon by its members or diplomatic arrangements negotiated outside the formal process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three candidates remain in the race<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Four candidates initially entered the contest: Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, Lumumba of the DRC, Coumba B\u00e2 of Mauritania and Ciolo\u0219 of Romania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following Lumumba’s withdrawal, three candidates remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mushikiwabo, who has led the organisation since 2018, is banking on her experience at the helm, reforms undertaken during her first two terms and initiatives targeting youth, entrepreneurship, education and cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ciolo\u0219, a former Romanian Prime Minister and European Commissioner for Agriculture, is advocating stronger economic partnerships, international cooperation, training and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, questions have emerged about his familiarity with Africa, which accounts for a substantial share of the Francophone world’s population and membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his hearing at OIF headquarters in Paris on June 30, 2026, Ciolo\u0219 acknowledged having limited direct experience of the continent and pledged to visit African member states if elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coumba B\u00e2, a former Mauritanian minister and special adviser to the OIF, has presented a platform centred on education, youth and cooperation among French-speaking countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Africa’s influence at stake<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The leadership contest comes as African countries seek to strengthen their influence in an organisation where they constitute the majority of members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The DRC’s decision to abandon its candidate in favour of a European contender has renewed questions about the ability of African countries to build common positions on the Francophonie’s leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The developments also unfold against the backdrop of strained diplomatic and security relations between Kinshasa and Kigali, particularly over the situation in eastern DRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 20th Francophonie Summit is taking place on November 15 and 16 under the theme, “Investing Again in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next Secretary-General is expected to be selected on November 16 during a closed-door meeting of heads of state and government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If consensus fails, the subsequent vote could put Africa’s numerical advantage to the test, with potentially significant implications for Mushikiwabo’s bid for a third term and the organisation’s future leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) decision to withdraw its candidate and back Romania’s Dacian Ciolo\u0219 has reshaped the race for the leadership of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), as Rwanda stands firm behind incumbent Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo amid reported diplomatic pressure to have her withdraw.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000132323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"archived_slugs":[],"footnotes":"","igh_game_id":0},"categories":[48],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000132321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics-48","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":2000122456,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-14-at-11.58.47-AM.jpeg","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-14 at 11.58.47 AM","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"},"user_id":131,"twitter_handle":""}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe 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