Rwanda candidate vies for OIF job amid DRC threat
The Democratic Republic of Congo threatens to leave La Francophonie if its candidate does not win the secretary general post.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are competing for the secretary general position at the La Francophonie organisation in Cambodia. The election for the role, held by Rwanda's Louise Mushikiwabo, is scheduled for November 16 in Phnom Penh. Kinshasa has declared it will withdraw from the organisation if its candidate, Juliana Lumumba, is not successful.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Paris is increasing engagement with both Kinshasa and Kigali as the Phnom Penh summit nears. The DRC has sent a delegation of 100 officials to the event, a move that contravenes OIF rules limiting accompanying persons for presidents to three. Organisers are reportedly questioning the purpose of such a large Congolese delegation.
Kinshasa political strategists have devised a plan for the Phnom Penh OIF elections. The DRC's presidential delegation of 100 members arrived in advance of the summit.