The Rwandan government has officially announced its support for Louise Mushikiwabo to serve a third term as the Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). The endorsement was confirmed by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, during a recent interview.
The announcement comes roughly ten months before the OIF’s next high-level summit, which is slated to take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this coming November.
A Record of Institutional Transformation
Mushikiwabo, a former Rwandan Foreign Minister, has led the 88-member organization since 2019. During her tenure, Kigali asserts that she has implemented a “structured and coherent transformation” of the body.
Key achievements cited by the Rwandan government include:
- Strengthened Political Credibility: Enhancing the OIF’s influence on the global stage.
- Institutional Clarity: Streamlining the organization’s internal structures and governance.
- Operational Effectiveness: Improving the delivery and impact of OIF programs across member states.
Furthermore, the OIF under Mushikiwabo has become a vocal advocate for Francophone representation in global leadership. The organization has actively supported candidates for top roles within the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and UNESCO.
Path to a Historic Re-election
Last November, Mushikiwabo revealed that several member nations had already encouraged her to seek another mandate. If she successfully secures a third term, she will make history by joining former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf as the only leader to have served three terms at the helm of the institution.
The formal application window for the position remains open until April 2026.