Juliana Lumumba Presents Vision for the Future of La Francophonie

Paris, July 1, 2026 — Democratic Republic of Congo candidate Juliana Amato Lumumba presented an ambitious vision for the future of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) during a formal hearing before foreign ministers from member states, outlining a platform focused on education, digital innovation, culture, peace, and youth empowerment.

The hearing took place during the 47th Extraordinary Session of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie (CMF), where candidates for the position of Secretary-General of the OIF presented their priorities and answered questions from member states.

A Personal Story That Shaped Her Vision

Opening her presentation, Lumumba introduced herself not simply as the daughter of Congo's first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, but as someone whose life reflects the values of solidarity and multiculturalism.

She recounted how, before Patrice Lumumba's assassination in 1961, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser welcomed her family into exile after appeals to other African leaders. She described growing up in Egypt, learning French and Arabic while maintaining her Congolese identity, saying her upbringing convinced her that dialogue, diversity and mutual respect are essential foundations for international cooperation.

"A Francophonie for the People"

At the heart of her campaign was a call to transform the Francophonie into what she described as "a Francophonie of the people."

Rather than limiting the organization to diplomatic meetings and political declarations, Lumumba argued that it should deliver visible results in citizens' everyday lives through education, employment, mobility, digital access, culture and peace.

She said the effectiveness of the OIF should be measured by its real impact on communities across the French-speaking world.