Louise Mushikiwabo has officially revealed that she will seek a third term as the Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), after two successful terms leading the organization in a turmoil period. In an interview with Jeune Afrique, the former foreign affairs minister of Rwanda said she is motivated by her desire to continue contributing to the organisation’s growth and transformation. Indeed, that growth that she pointed towards has been visible. Mushikiwabo has steered La Francophonie from a largely cultural-linguistic focus to a more assertive political and multilateral institution. She has done this in record time even at the height of a Covid-19 pandemic and rapidly rising geopolitical tensions. Since taking over the leadership in 2019, the career diplomat has reasserted OIF’s political relevance by emphasizing conflict prevention, mediation, and constitutional order across the Francophonie world. When La Francophonie sanctioned Niger, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso over coups, it was a sign that its leadership was attempting to send a message that leaders should commit to the Bamako Declaration, which commits members to democracy and human rights. During her first two terms, she has also strengthened election observation missions across the region, advocated for multilateralism, promoted trade and investment links, and supported youth entrepreneurship and women-led businesses. As Mushikiwabo highlighted in her latest interview, the first two terms were focused largely on internal transformation and governance reforms, as well as implementing those reforms. In her words, a third term would “allow me to scale up programmes and projects that are close to my heart.” But nobody expects this period of her candidature to go without interference. The DR Congo government has already signalled that they will field their own candidate. Although Mushikiwabo is not deterred by this, it must be clear that the Kinshasa government’s decision is influenced by its stance towards Rwanda. The tensions that have existed between the two states are purely bilateral. For electors, they should not allow bilateral tensions to stand in a way of their choice to support a strongly competent candidate, and Mushikiwabo is a perfect fit in many ways.
