DRC Shines, Rwanda Interferes: as Lumumba Enters OIF Race

In recent weeks, debate has intensified over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s role within the Francophonie, driven by claims linking unpaid bills from the Francophonie Games to the country’s credibility and standing within the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).

While some commentators highlight outstanding payments to contractors, critics argue this narrative deliberately conflates domestic financial challenges with international legitimacy, diverting attention from broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly the growing scrutiny of both the DRC’s performance and Rwanda’s role within the organization.

At the same time, the Democratic Republic of Congo has presented Juliana Lumumba as its candidate for Secretary General of the OIF, a move that underscores the growing competition over leadership and influence within the Francophonie.

War Context and Financial Realities

Regarding the Francophonie, Rwanda must be considered a peripheral country. Its real contribution to French-speaking communities is nonexistent, and its impact in the Francophone world remains marginal.

In contrast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo hosted exemplary Francophonie Games (Jeux de la Francophonie), arguably the best of all time, thanks to the country's attractiveness, the quality of organization by the Congolese government, and infrastructure worthy of such a prestigious event.

It is important to recall that the Francophonie Games are not directly organized by the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). The fallacious link that certain actors attempt to establish between the organization of the Games and the DRC’s candidacy within the Francophonie reflects unacceptable cynicism and a manipulative maneuver orchestrated by Rwanda and its relays.

A Controversy Beyond Logistics

Regarding the Games themselves, the issue does not lie in the payment of contractors’ bills, which will be addressed. The real concern stems from the refusal of the current Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, to participate in this major event, an absence widely interpreted as alignment with Rwanda’s position.

For a Secretary General of the OIF to serve the interests of a belligerent state at the expense of a major international cultural and sporting event constitutes a flagrant violation of the neutrality required by the organization’s charter.

According to Article 3 of the Charter of the International Organization of La Francophonie, the Secretary General and the institution must act “in respect of the sovereign equality of all member states and promote cooperation and solidarity among them, without favoritism or alignment with particular interests.”

However, the behavior of Louise Mushikiwabo, marked by her alignment with Rwanda and her boycott of the Games, clearly contradicts this principle and illustrates what critics describe as an unacceptable instrumentalization of the Francophonie by a third state.

War Context and Financial Realities

Payment delays can be understood within the broader context: the Democratic Republic of Congo is at war, and resources are being redirected toward the defense of territorial integrity, a normal adjustment in times of conflict.

This situation is itself rooted in a prolonged crisis, which the Congolese perspective attributes to Rwanda’s belligerent posture, including its past actions in 2012, at a time when Louise Mushikiwabo served as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Her current stance, marked by silence and absence, is interpreted by critics as further evidence of bias and a lack of leadership.

A Leadership in Question

In summary, Louise Mushikiwabo is seen by her detractors as having delivered no tangible achievements since taking office, while steering the Francophonie into a dead end.

Her recent interview with Le Figaro, in which she acknowledges an increase in French speakers but highlights the organization’s limited global impact, reinforces concerns about her capacity to manage and unify the institution.

For critics, her perceived bias, lack of results, and refusal to support a fundamental event for the Francophone world undermine both the mission and the integrity of the International Organization of La Francophonie, raising serious questions about its adherence to its own charter.