Why Kinshasa Is Challenging Mushikiwabo’s Leadership at OIF

The International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) is heading into a politically charged succession contest, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) indicating it will put forward an alternative candidate to replace Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo, the Rwandan diplomat who has led the organization since her election in 2018 and re-election in 2022. For Kinshasa, the move is less about personalities than a public test of whether the Francophonie can remain a credible, unifying platform when member states are locked in an escalating regional dispute.

A leadership challenge rooted in “neutrality” disputes

At the center of Kinshasa’s case is a long-running complaint about how the OIF has been managed under Mushikiwabo specifically, whether the Secretary-General has maintained sufficient impartiality as tensions between the DRC and Rwanda have deepened. Mushikiwabo’s mandate places her at the heart of the Francophonie’s institutional machinery, including chairing key bodies and coordinating the organization’s work as reported by Africa Press.

Congolese officials, according to the original report, argue that OIF leadership has not reflected what they see as the gravity of the security crisis in eastern Congo and the regional tensions that accompany it. Their criticism is framed as a governance and credibility question: if the Francophonie claims shared values and political dialogue among members, Kinshasa wants the institution to demonstrate that those principles apply even when conflicts involve influential member states.

The eastern Congo conflict is the unspoken driver

The DRC–Rwanda relationship has been strained for years, but the conflict in eastern DRC has intensified mistrust. Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Kigali of supporting the M23 rebel movement an allegation Rwanda has denied. The political significance for the OIF is that this dispute is no longer confined to bilateral channels; it is increasingly shaping how the DRC engages with multilateral bodies where Rwanda is also present.

Independent reporting and diplomatic statements have pointed to UN expert findings on the eastern DRC conflict, which have been cited internationally in discussions about M23 and regional dynamics.  This wider context helps explain why Kinshasa is treating the OIF succession as a consequential decision: the Secretary-General is not expected to arbitrate a war, but the DRC is signaling that perceived institutional “silence” or “imbalance” can carry diplomatic costs.

The 2023 Kinshasa Francophonie Games episode became symbolic

The disagreement did not start with the current succession season. It was already visible in public moments most notably around the 2023 Francophonie Games hosted in Kinshasa. Mushikiwabo did not attend the opening, and competing accounts circulated about the circumstances, including questions of protocol and invitations.

While the Games were not an OIF political summit, the controversy became a proxy for the broader relationship: Kinshasa interpreted it as another sign of strained ties within the Francophonie ecosystem at a time when the DRC wanted stronger institutional solidarity.

A contest shaped by the OIF’s consensus culture

The succession process is complicated by how the OIF traditionally reaches decisions often through consensus and coalition-building rather than straightforward bloc voting.  That means the DRC’s strategy must go beyond rallying Francophone African states and extend to member governments in Europe, North America, and elsewhere that carry influence within the organization.

The original report notes that Mushikiwabo’s campaign is already active and is believed to benefit from support in several major capitals. That dynamic raises the bar for Kinshasa: to win, it must present a candidate who can be framed as broadly acceptable not merely as an “anti-Rwanda” choice.

What Kinshasa is trying to achieve

From Kinshasa’s perspective, the challenge serves multiple objectives at once:

1. Reassert influence as the largest Francophone country. The DRC has long argued its demographic and cultural weight should translate into stronger leadership standing in Francophone institutions.

2. Force a debate about institutional credibility. By pushing the leadership question, the DRC is effectively asking whether the OIF can maintain unity and legitimacy when members face severe regional conflict.

3. Create leverage in a broader diplomatic contest. Even if Kinshasa does not ultimately secure the top job, mounting a serious challenge can shift negotiations, alliances, and the tone of engagement inside the OIF.

Some diplomats referenced in the original reporting also float a third possibility: if polarization deepens, the organization could turn toward a compromise candidate from a third country to avoid an open rupture.

Why this matters beyond one office

The OIF is primarily a cultural and linguistic organization, but its members also present it as a community of shared political values. The DRC’s challenge highlights a recurring tension: when security crises implicate member states, institutions built for cooperation and cultural diplomacy can struggle to serve as credible venues for political mediation.

For that reason, the next OIF summit’s leadership decision will be read as more than an internal appointment. It will signal whether Kinshasa can translate national weight into multilateral influence and whether Kigali can sustain backing for Mushikiwabo’s continued leadership in a shifting diplomatic landscape.

Source: Africa press