Louise Mushikiwabo has said there should be no fear of voting in the race for the next Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), arguing that it is a standard democratic practice in international organisations. She made the comments in an interview with Africa 24 on Friday, November 13, when asked about reports that DR Congo could withdraw from the organisation if she wins another term. ALSO READ: Who gets to choose the next Francophonie Secretary-General? Mushikiwabo acknowledged having heard the reports but said she would be surprised if DR Congo followed through on such a move over the outcome of an election. “The rumours you mentioned regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo’s potential withdrawal are something I have heard about. However, as a great country with great people, one cannot resort to blackmail,” she said. She also noted that DR Congo had been involved in the election process since the beginning of 2026, including presenting its own candidate and taking part in hearings held in June. ALSO READ: Mushikiwabo pledges to make Francophonie 'more influential, better governed' With the election now approaching, she said withdrawing at this stage would not be the best choice. Mushikiwabo further explained that there should be no fear of a vote, which is part of the established democratic process in international organisations. “I don’t see why there should be any fear of voting within the OIF (International Organisation of La Francophonie), given that voting is a standard practice at the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union,” she said. “It is unclear why some would invoke such an anti-democratic sentiment regarding a major institution like ours.” ALSO READ: How Mushikiwabo transformed La Francophonie during her tenure Mushikiwabo also emphasised that the organisation's 53 full members collectively determine its leadership, meaning no individual country has veto powers over the others. “A country may have a national position, but the International Organisation of La Francophonie has 53 decision-making countries, and therefore, there is no right of veto in our organization,” she said. “It is a matter of the collective will of a process that has already been concluded and belongs to all member states,” she said. She reiterated that she would find it surprising if DR Congo withdrew over the election outcome. “In any case, I would be very surprised. Congo is too great a country to throw tantrums,” she said. ALSO READ: Mushikiwabo talks priorities in Francophonie rebid Mushikiwabo has led the organisation since January 2019 and was re-elected in 2022. She is seeking a third term against three challengers: Dacian Cioloș of Romania, Juliana Amato Lumumba of DR Congo and Coumba Bâ of Mauritania. During the interview, she also highlighted reforms undertaken during her tenure, including changes to the organisation's management and programmes focusing on youth, education, digital initiatives and women's empowerment. She said she wants the OIF to strengthen its role in economic cooperation, moving beyond its traditional focus on promoting the French language. “Naturally, the discussion will also cover the stability the world so desperately needs, a stability that paves the way toward prosperity,” she said. The election will take place on November 16 during the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which runs from November 15 to 16. The winner will serve a four-year term from 2027 to 2030. How the election will be decided The OIF has 90 member states and governments, comprising 53 full members, five associate members and 32 observers. Only the 53 full members have voting rights in the Secretary-General's election. Their heads of state and government will make the decision during a closed session of the summit. The election is not a public vote. The four candidates presented their visions for the organisation and responded to questions during hearings in June. Member states will first seek to reach consensus on a candidate. If they fail, a vote will be held, with the winner determined by a simple majority of votes cast by members present and voting. The OIF brings together countries and governments that share the French language or have an interest in promoting it. Its work also covers education, democracy, peace, human rights, economic development and international relations. The organisation estimates that the Francophone space accounts for 16 per cent of global gross domestic product and 20 per cent of global merchandise trade. Africa accounts for 65 per cent of French speakers worldwide, according to the OIF's 2026 report on the French language.
