Francophonie: DR Congo withdraws its candidate and backs Dacian Cioloș
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Mediacongo, KT Press, Panorama Rwanda, Confidentiel Afrique, Actualité.cd and RFI
Kinshasa has announced the withdrawal of Juliana Amato Lumumba’s candidacy for the secretary-general post of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, according to RFI. The Democratic Republic of the Congo now backs Romanian Dacian Cioloș, to foster consensus among member states ahead of the vote scheduled for Monday in Phnom Penh.
At the ministerial meeting preceding the summit, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said Kinshasa had notified all member states of its willingness to withdraw its candidate, the daughter of former leader Patrice Lumumba. She wanted to avoid a vote that risked undermining the stability of the organisation, and urged the other contenders to follow this example. Directly targeting Kigali, she warned that Rwanda would have to bear the consequences of its refusal alone if it did not do the same. Kinshasa stresses that the gesture does not affect Ms Lumumba’s profile or skills.
Dacian Cioloș, a former Romanian prime minister, thanked the DRC on X on Saturday for its confidence in his vision and its commitment to consensus. He praised Juliana Lumumba’s commitment to Francophone cohesion and proposed moving from rivalry to cooperation. Kinshasa had openly opposed the renewal of Louise Mushikiwabo, the outgoing secretary-general and former Rwandan foreign minister, who is seeking a third four-year term, amid persistent insecurity in the east of the country. According to Jeune Afrique, the French president reportedly pressed Paul Kagame on Friday evening to give up Louise Mushikiwabo’s candidacy in favour of Mr Cioloș, adding that the DRC and Mauritania were also ready to follow suit.
In Kigali, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe welcomed the withdrawal on X, which he believes could win over support for Ms Mushikiwabo. He does, however, question the decision to back a Romanian rather than one of the two remaining African candidates, which he considers contrary to an African Union resolution adopted in Addis Ababa at the end of July 2026. That resolution had shortlisted three African candidates: Louise Mushikiwabo, Juliana Lumumba and Mauritanian Coumba Bâ. For now, Rwanda refuses to withdraw its candidate and is demanding a vote.
The vote is scheduled for Monday 16 November, behind closed doors, during the 20th Summit held in Phnom Penh on 15 and 16 November. It is a first: until now the secretary-general was appointed by consensus, whereas this time the heads of state and government of member states will decide between the candidates by vote. The DRC hopes the other contenders and their supporters will show the same reciprocity.
Update of 14 November 2026: Emmanuel Macron wants Kigali to abandon Louise Mushikiwabo’s candidacy for the leadership of the Francophonie, in favour of a compromise before Monday’s vote. Also read: Macron presses Kigali to withdraw Mushikiwabo, candidate for the Francophonie.
