Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda conflict over who ought to lead the organisation of French-speaking nations.
Revealed On 15 Nov 2026
Leaders of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) are assembly in Cambodia amid a dispute between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda over who ought to lead the affiliation of French-speaking nations, which threatens to separate the group.
The OIF is holding a three-day summit within the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, by Monday. A free confederation of 90 states and governments the place French is spoken or broadly used, the OIF has 53 full members, 5 affiliate members and 32 observers.
Really helpful Tales
checklist of three objectsfinish of checklist
French President Emmanuel Macron, who chaired the final summit in 2024 and can hand the chair to Cambodia, arrived on Saturday and met Prime Minister Hun Manet, The Related Press information company reported.
About 20 leaders are anticipated, together with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Vietnamese President To Lam, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
A struggle excessive job
On Monday, leaders will select the organisation’s subsequent secretary-general for a four-year time period.
Rwanda’s Louise Mushikiwabo, who has led the OIF since 2018, is searching for a 3rd time period.
The DRC, nonetheless, which accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 armed group within the nation’s east, has threatened to go away the OIF if she is re-elected. Congo, the USA and United Nations specialists say Rwanda backs the M23, certainly one of about 100 armed teams within the mineral-rich area.
Rwanda denies the allegations.
On Saturday, the DRC withdrew its candidate, Juliana Lumumba, the daughter of independence hero Patrice Lumumba, and backed Romanian former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to permit “consensus round a unifying candidacy”.
Rwanda’s overseas minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, mentioned Mushikiwabo would keep within the race. Mauritania’s Coumba Ba, a former minister, can also be working, the AFP information company reported.
Macron’s workplace mentioned that almost all members agreed on the necessity for consensus and that he would take it up together with his African counterparts. France is the biggest contributor to the OIF’s 2026 finances of 71.7 million euros ($79m).
Rwanda has mentioned Macron requested Kagame to withdraw its candidate and that Kigali refused, AFP reported.
The DRC has a inhabitants of greater than 110 million, roughly 40 million greater than France, and is essentially the most populous nation the place French is an official language. Its exit could be a blow to the organisation, which misplaced Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which introduced their withdrawals in March 2025 following suspensions over navy coups.
Cambodia within the highlight
The summit’s slogan is “Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability”. Activists see it as an opportunity to press Cambodia, a de facto one-party state, on rights.
UN Particular Rapporteur Tom Andrews urged delegates to press for the discharge of detained activists. “Nobody ought to be detained for defending human rights, reporting on issues of public concern, or voicing important opinions,” he mentioned.
Macron arrived as France faces widespread protests at house. He is because of go to the Angkor World Heritage Web site on Monday earlier than leaving for Malaysia.
