Francophonie Games: OIF has paid nothing, says Lutundula
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Actualité.cd
Christophe Lutundula, former Congolese foreign minister, claims DR Congo alone financed 100% of the ninth Francophonie Games held in Kinshasa in 2023, with the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) having paid nothing. He cites debts of several million dollars and infrastructure costing more than 40 million, during an edition of the Space live programme devoted to the Phnom Penh summit.
Christophe Lutundula, former head of Congolese diplomacy, who chaired the steering committee of the ninth Francophonie Games, claims DR Congo alone financed 100% of the Games held in Kinshasa in 2023, and that the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) has yet to pay anything. He spoke on Saturday during a special edition of the Space live programme devoted to the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, according to Actualité.cd.
According to him, the host country does not bear the funding of such an event alone, and the organisation contributes 'a fairly high percentage'. He also refers to a 'significant outstanding bill' of debts owed to francophone companies that took part in building and managing the sports facilities, without naming them. He refers to 'millions' of dollars without giving a precise figure, and estimates the cost of the infrastructure alone at more than 40 million dollars.
He recalls that Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the OIF, had refused to travel to the Kinshasa Games. He considers this absence contrary to tradition and says he has never heard an 'objective and conclusive' reason to justify it. For him, the episode shows that Congolese are questioning their country’s place in La Francophonie.
These statements come ahead of the selection on Monday in Phnom Penh of Louise Mushikiwabo’s successor, for whom DR Congo has put forward Juliana Lumumba.
