DR Congo Nominates Juliana Lumumba to Challenge Rwanda’s Mushikiwabo for Francophonie Top Job

Juliana Lumumba

KINSHASA – The Democratic Republic of Congo has nominated businesswoman and former minister Juliana Amato Lumumba as its candidate for Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), setting up a potential contest with Rwanda’s incumbent Louise Mushikiwabo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the DRC’s Ministry of Communication and Media said the government was presenting Lumumba’s candidacy as part of its ambition to contribute to “a renewal and dynamism of the Francophone space.”

“By presenting the candidacy of Madame Juliana Amato Lumumba, the DRC wishes to contribute to a more modern Francophonie, more inclusive and closer to the peoples,” said Crispin Mbadu Phanzu, Minister Delegate for International Cooperation in charge of Francophonie and the Congolese Diaspora, according to the statement.

The announcement signals Kinshasa’s intention to contest the leadership of the 88-member body at a time of heightened diplomatic rivalry in Central Africa, particularly between Congo and Rwanda over ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo.

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo has led the Paris-based OIF since 2019, becoming the first African woman to head the organisation. Her tenure has coincided with growing tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa, which accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Congo – allegations Rwanda denies.

Kinshasa’s decision to field Lumumba is likely to be viewed as both a diplomatic move within the Francophone bloc and a broader effort to assert Congo’s influence in regional and multilateral forums.

Lumumba, who has more than three decades of experience in public governance, cultural diplomacy and international cooperation, previously served as Congo’s vice minister and later minister of culture and arts in the early 2000s, according to the government statement. She also held the post of Secretary-General of the Union of African Chambers of Commerce (UACCIA) in Cairo from 2007 to 2015.

The government described her as an entrepreneur with experience in consulting, communications and international trade, and highlighted her academic background, including studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris.

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The statement said Lumumba’s candidacy would be anchored on promoting economic integration, women’s leadership and multilingualism within the Francophonie.

It also emphasised her engagement in pan-African economic cooperation and her advocacy for stronger entrepreneurial capacities on the continent.

“At a time of digital, cultural and economic transitions, the DRC carries the ambition of a Francophonie that is more supportive of peoples and capable of accompanying the transformations of the 21st century,” the ministry said.

The OIF brings together French-speaking countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas and plays a role in promoting the French language, cultural cooperation, democratic governance and development.

It was not immediately clear when the next vote for Secretary-General would take place or whether Mushikiwabo would seek another term. Rwanda has previously secured broad backing from African Union members for her candidacy.

Analysts say any contest between a Congolese and Rwandan candidate could test regional alliances within the Francophonie, particularly among African member states that make up the majority of its membership.

For Kinshasa, the nomination offers an opportunity to project diplomatic leadership beyond the security crisis at home and to reposition itself as a key voice in shaping the future of the Francophone world.