DR Congo, Rwanda clash over leadership of 320 million-member French-speaking bloc amid war tensions

The race for secretary general of the OIF – a bloc representing more than 320 million French speakers across 90 states and governments comes as fighting continues in eastern Congo between Kinshasa and the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels.

Rwanda is backing incumbent Louise Mushikiwabo for a third term, while Congo has fielded Juliana Lumumba, the daughter of Congo’s independence leader Patrice Lumumba.

Reuters reports that Kinshasa has intensified diplomatic efforts in support of Lumumba’s candidacy since announcing her bid in late February. As part of the campaign, she has visited several African countries and Canada, the second-largest financial contributor to the OIF.

The diplomatic contest comes at a sensitive moment for the Francophone world, particularly in Africa, where several French-speaking nations have increasingly distanced themselves from France amid growing anti-French sentiment, military tensions and shifting geopolitical alliances.

Recent outreach by French President Emmanuel Macron has also highlighted these changing dynamics.

Macron’s latest African engagements notably leaned toward Anglophone partners, reflecting the cooling relationship between Paris and parts of Francophone Africa following a wave of coups and growing Russian influence in the Sahel.

Kinshasa is now attempting to leverage its demographic weight to reshape leadership within the OIF. With a population of around 100 million people, Congo is officially the world’s largest French-speaking country, giving it increasing influence inside the organisation.

Beyond promoting the French language and culture, the OIF plays a broader role in education, diplomacy, economic cooperation, governance and human rights. African countries make up the majority of its membership, giving the continent significant influence within the organisation.

The bloc also affects Africa politically and economically through development funding, education partnerships, cultural programmes and diplomatic coordination among Francophone states.

In recent years, however, the organisation has faced growing pressure as several African members reassess their historical ties with France amid rising anti-French sentiment and shifting geopolitical alliances.

Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya told Reuters the campaign was being pursued “in a positive and constructive spirit,” adding that the organisation should reflect the growing importance of African French-speaking populations.

“For us, this election is not about rivalry between states or bilateral tensions,” Muyaya said. “The OIF is a multilateral organisation that goes beyond short-term political disputes.”

Rwanda, however, argues continuity is needed. Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said Mushikiwabo’s candidacy is based on her record of modernising the organisation.

The OIF will elect its next leader during a summit in Cambodia in November, in a vote increasingly viewed as a test of influence within a rapidly changing Francophone Africa.