After the discussions, both Heads of States held a joint press conference where the duo revealed that they support the Candidacy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) Secretary General position.
OIF generally known as La Francophonie is an international organization representing countries and regions where French is a customary language, where a significant proportion of the population are French speakers, or where there is a notable affiliation with French culture.
The organization comprises 57 member states and governments, three associate members and twenty observers.
Also OIF is an organization comprising a network of private and public organizations promoting equal ties among countries where French people or France played a significant historical role, culturally, militarily, or politically.
Rwanda has been a member of La Francofonie since 1970. In 2009, Rwanda was admitted to Commonwealth, the intergovernmental organisation of 53 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire.
Since then, it seemed that Rwanda focused on relations and interests with English speaking countries, but remained the OIF member.
The elections of OIF Secretary General are anticipated in October in the organisation’s 17th general assembly that will take place in Yerevan, Armenia in October 11th and 12th 2018.
Currently, the organization is led by 60-year-old Canadian Michaëlle Jean.
Asked yesterday about Mushikiwabo’s candidacy in the October elections, both heads openly revealed that they support the candidacy of a woman who they described as a good choice and eligible to head the organization.
President Kagame started by emphasizing that Rwanda has always been a member of the La Francophonie. He said that some people have had confusion thinking that Rwanda has stopped being a member of the organization.
“It is not true, we will never stop being so, only that we have been members in addition of other organisations as well,” he clarified.
He said that Rwanda has interests in contributing to building new realities of La Francophonie.
“Therefore, as we like Rwanda would be asked by La Francophonie in this particular case, there is interest for us to be able to contribute in good way, building, going forward, new realities of Francophonie because of the new times. We are happy to participate in that sense of providing leaders or a leader like Mushikiwabo as long as this meets the understanding and the support especially the African members of the La Francophonie and France,” he said.
{{France openly supported the candidacy}}
President Macron said that today’s centre of the La Francophonie is in Africa. He said that they want to change La Francophonie into a successful organization and assure that the youth of Africa will completely own the organization.
“I have a conviction that I cannot hide that if there is an African candidate to the Secretary General of La Francophonie, it will make sense. If that candidate is a woman it will surely make more sense. On that post I believe that the Foreign Affairs Minister of Rwanda, Louise Mushikiwabo has enough competence to effectively exercise that function,” Macron declared.
He observed that Mushikiwabo excellently speaks French in a country where the president speaks English. He said that half of Rwandan population still speak French in a country that speaks many languages.
“I believe that having an African candidate from African Union will be good news,” he explained.
{{Can the candidature revitalize the relations? }}
In the past twenty-four years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has repeatedly accused France of supporting the genocidal government in preparations and execution of the genocide as well as shielding genocide perpetrators.
Rwanda has called on France to admit its role in the genocide and support the tracking and arresting of genocide fugitives who are still at large in France.
Rwanda-France relations cannot be founded by neglecting the dark past. Admitting France’s role in the genocide was considered as the imperative way towards new trend of relationships.
According to a Political Analyst and University Lecturer, Dr. Christopher Kayumba, France’s support to Mushikiwabo candidacy is one step towards good relationship, though the organization has no connection with both countries’ relations.
“I think that it is the first step, but, it doesn’t imply that it will revitalize the relations because the cause of bad relations has no connection with that position. Bad relations originate from the role of France in the genocide and not admitting and apologizing for that role,” he said.
“I think that France will have good relationship with Rwanda once they admit their role in the genocide, apologise and if necessary pay compensation,” he explained.
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