Juliana Lumumba Wants a Francophonie “Closer to the People”

PARIS — Juliana Amato Lumumba, daughter of Congolese independence icon Patrice Lumumba and candidate for Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), has called for a major “refoundation” of the Francophonie, arguing that the institution must become “closer to the people” and less bureaucratic.

Speaking in an extensive interview with RFI during her campaign visit to Paris, the former Congolese culture minister presented her vision for what she described as a more inclusive, youth-focused and people-centered Francophonie ahead of the OIF leadership election scheduled for November 2026.

“I want a Francophonie of the peoples, closer to the people,” Juliana Lumumba told RFI. “Not only governments, but communities, women, men and young people speaking to each other.”

Her candidacy comes at a pivotal moment for the French-speaking world, as African countries now represent the majority of Francophone speakers globally. Lumumba argues that the organisation must evolve beyond what she described as an overly institutional model and reconnect with ordinary citizens, youth and cultural diversity across the Francophone space.

A Campaign Built Around Youth, Dialogue and Cultural Diversity

During the interview, Lumumba emphasized the importance of youth, digital transformation, education and cultural industries in the future of the Francophonie.

She argued that Africa’s demographic reality, where the majority of French speakers are now young Africans, requires a new vision for the organisation.

Lumumba also defended the idea of a “polycentric” French language, explaining that French should coexist alongside African languages rather than dominate them.

Her campaign platform focuses heavily on:

• youth empowerment,

• digital transformation,

• cultural and creative industries,

• multilingualism,

• dialogue between peoples,

• and conflict mediation within the Francophone world.

• Patrice Lumumba Legacy and Pan-African Values

A significant part of the interview focused on Juliana Lumumba’s personal history and the legacy of her father, Patrice Lumumba, the Congo’s first prime minister assassinated in 1961.

Lumumba recounted how her family was secretly evacuated to Egypt before her father’s assassination, where they were protected under the leadership of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

She described herself as “the product” of Pan-African solidarity, sovereignty, dignity and justice, values she says continue to shape her political and diplomatic vision today.

“I arrive with those values,” she told RFI, linking them directly to the founding ideals of the Francophonie.

She also addressed the recent death of Belgian statesman Étienne Davignon, who had faced legal scrutiny over alleged involvement in Patrice Lumumba’s assassination. Juliana Lumumba said her family’s struggle has always been about “truth and memory,” rather than revenge.

“Truth liberates,” she said. “This is not only the truth of the Lumumba children, but the truth of an entire country.”

Ebola Outbreak: “The DRC Knows How to Fight This Disease”

Asked about the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Juliana Lumumba expressed confidence in the country’s ability to contain the epidemic.

She noted that this is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak and highlighted the country’s internationally recognized expertise in epidemic management.

“The DRC is among the best experts when it comes to this disease,” she told RFI.

Lumumba praised the collaboration between Congolese authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and international partners, while also highlighting the work of Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe and the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), which played a key role in Ebola vaccine research.

Her comments reinforce the broader message increasingly promoted by Congolese officials: despite insecurity in eastern Congo, the DRC possesses one of Africa’s most experienced epidemic response systems.

OIF Election and Rwanda Question

Juliana Lumumba will face several candidates in the race for the OIF leadership, including incumbent Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, who is seeking another term.

However, Lumumba rejected attempts to frame the election as a geopolitical confrontation between Rwanda and the DRC.

“The Francophonie is not a place for confrontation,” she said. “It is a space of dialogue, mediation and values.”

Instead, she argued that the OIF should become more active in peacebuilding, mediation and conflict prevention across the Francophone world.

One of her proposals includes creating a “Francophone Academy of Peace” aimed at training young people in conflict prevention and mediation.

Seeking Support Across the Francophone World

Lumumba confirmed that she has already visited around fifteen countries as part of her campaign, including Canada, Quebec and New Brunswick, where she said her ideas received a “warm welcome.”

She also revealed that she met French President Emmanuel Macron during the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, where she was introduced by President Félix Tshisekedi.

While she stopped short of confirming French support for her candidacy, Lumumba acknowledged that she hopes to gain backing from a broad coalition of Francophone nations.

According to her interview with RFI, several African leaders have already openly expressed enthusiasm for her campaign, including:

• President Teodoro Obiang Nguema,

• President Mahamat Idriss Déby,

• and President Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

As the OIF campaign intensifies ahead of the November 2026 vote, Juliana Lumumba is increasingly positioning herself not only as the candidate of the DRC, but as the advocate for a younger, more African and more people-centered Francophonie.