Rwanda has formally decided to nominate Louise Mushikiwabo for a third term as Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), President Paul Kagame’s office has confirmed ahead of the next Francophonie Summit.
The announcement was made by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, in an exclusive interview with Jeune Afrique. He said the decision comes as preparations begin for the upcoming summit, where the organisation’s leadership will be reviewed. The minister also addressed wider regional developments, including the ongoing crisis in the Great Lakes region.
With ten months to go before the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Rwanda has moved early to secure continuity at the helm of the OIF. Mushikiwabo’s current term expires this year, and the deadline for submitting candidacies closes at the end of April.
Mushikiwabo is the fourth Secretary-General of the Francophonie and the third African to lead the organisation, following Senegal’s Abdou Diouf and Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali. She was first elected in October 2018 at the Francophonie Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, and was re-elected for a second term in November 2022.
Before taking charge of the OIF, Mushikiwabo held senior roles in both international institutions and the Rwandan government. She served as Head of Communications at the African Development Bank in Tunis before joining President Kagame’s cabinet in March 2008 as Minister of Information, later becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs.
During her time as Secretary-General, Mushikiwabo has promoted a human-centred and collaborative leadership style, focusing on strengthening solidarity among Francophone countries, expanding youth participation, advancing girls’ education, encouraging digital innovation, and increasing the global influence of the French language.
Rwanda’s decision to nominate her for a third term underscores Kigali’s confidence in her leadership as the Francophonie prepares for its next phase amid shifting global and regional challenges.