Kigali refuses to withdraw Mushikiwabo’s Francophonie candidacy
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on UG Diplomat
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe rules out any withdrawal of candidate Louise Mushikiwabo for the Francophonie secretary-general post, after reports that Emmanuel Macron had asked Paul Kagame to withdraw her. The election, for a 2027-2030 term against three rivals, is due to take place on 16 November at the summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, according to UG Diplomat.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe says Kigali is maintaining the candidacy of Louise Mushikiwabo, secretary-general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), for a third term from 2027 to 2030. He was responding to reports that French President Emmanuel Macron had asked his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to withdraw the candidacy, UG Diplomat reports.
According to Olivier Nduhungirehe, the French proposal was aimed at finding a consensus candidate to avoid further divisions within the OIF. Louise Mushikiwabo, who has led the organisation since 2019, faces Mauritanian Coumba Bâ, Congolese Juliana Amato Lumumba and former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș.
The election is due to take place on 16 November at the Francophonie summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Only the OIF’s 53 full members take part in choosing the secretary-general, out of 90 member states and governments, according to UG Diplomat.
The continuation of the Rwandan candidacy comes after Kigali defended a third term for Louise Mushikiwabo at the Francophonie on 1 November. On 13 November, Louise Mushikiwabo had also considered a Congolese withdrawal from the Francophonie unlikely, according to the headline published by our outlet.
