The Democratic Republic of Congo has withdrawn its support for African candidate Juliana Amato Lumumba and instead backed former Romanian prime minister Dacian Cioloș for the position of secretary-general of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Cioloș expressed gratitude to the DRC for its trust in his vision and commitment to consensus. He also thanked Lumumba for her dedication to the unity of the Francophonie.
However, Rwanda's Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, strongly criticized the DRC's decision, arguing that a European candidate cannot be considered a consensus choice after an African government withdraws its own candidate in defiance of an African Union decision. The African Union had endorsed three African women for the position: incumbent Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, Juliana Amato Lumumba of the DRC, and Coumba Bâ of Mauritania.
The DRC's decision to support a Romanian candidate is particularly sensitive given the recent history of Romanian mercenaries in the country. Hundreds of Romanian military contractors were deployed in eastern DRC to work alongside the Congolese army against AFC/M23. When Goma fell in January 2025, nearly 300 of them abandoned the battlefield and sought protection at United Nations facilities before being flown home.
The involvement of private military companies, including those with Romanian personnel, was documented by United Nations investigators. They found that these companies were involved in strategic planning, reconnaissance, logistics, artillery operations, and support for Congolese military aircraft. The expensive foreign force collapsed when the front gave way, leaving Congolese civilians and soldiers to face the consequences.
Nduhungirehe also accused European countries of hypocrisy, stating that they lecture Africans about democracy and electoral competition while warning that holding a vote in the Francophonie could create division. He argued that if elections are healthy for African countries, they should also be considered healthy for the Francophonie when a European candidate faces African competitors.
The OIF's rules provide for consensus, but they also permit a vote when consensus cannot be reached. Its 53 full members are capable of deciding the matter openly. This controversy has become a test of whether African Union decisions carry any weight when European interests enter the room.
The DRC has every sovereign right to support the candidate of its choice, but it cannot reasonably withdraw its African candidate, disregard an African Union position, and then demand that the rest of Africa call the arrangement "consensus." The outcome of this process will have implications for the future of the Francophonie and its relationships with African countries.
Key points
- The DRC's support for a Romanian candidate for the OIF's top job has sparked controversy over the African Union's endorsement of an African candidate.
- Rwanda's Foreign Minister has criticized the DRC's decision, arguing that a European candidate cannot be considered a consensus choice.
- The controversy has become a test of whether African Union decisions carry any weight when European interests enter the room.
