Rwanda backs Ex-FM for third term as Francophonie chief

Rwanda has formally announced its backing for its former Foreign Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, as she seeks a third term at the helm of the international organisation that promotes cooperation among French‑speaking nations, according to reporting by Africanews on January 13.

The endorsement was confirmed by Rwanda’s current Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, during an interview with Jeune Afrique, signalling Kigali’s intention to maintain a strong presence within the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

The announcement comes 10 months ahead of the next OIF summit, scheduled for November in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where member states will vote on the organisation’s leadership. The timing underscores Rwanda’s desire to consolidate support early, particularly as geopolitical dynamics within the Francophone world continue to shift.

Mushikiwabo, who has led the OIF since 2019, oversees an institution that brings together 88 member states, governments, and observers across several continents.

During her tenure, Kigali argues she has implemented a structured and coherent reform agenda aimed at strengthening the organisation’s political credibility, improving institutional clarity, and enhancing operational effectiveness.

These reforms, Rwanda says, have helped reposition the OIF as a more assertive and strategically aligned body within the international system.

Under Mushikiwabo’s leadership, the organisation has also intensified efforts to support Francophone candidates seeking senior roles in global institutions, including the African Union, the African Development Bank, and UNESCO. This push reflects a broader ambition to increase Francophone representation in multilateral decision‑making spaces.

Speaking last November on the sidelines of an OIF conference, Mushikiwabo revealed that several countries had already encouraged her to pursue another term. If re‑elected, she would join former Senegalese president Abdou Diouf as the only Secretary General to serve three consecutive terms.

The application period for candidates remains open until April, after which the formal campaign period will begin in the lead‑up to the Phnom Penh summit.

Rédaction Africanews with agencies, Maghrebi.org