Juliana Lumumba campaigns for OIF Secretary General position

The election for the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during the 20th Francophonie Summit scheduled for November 15 to 16, 2026. Heads of state from the 53 member states will select the leader for the 2027–2030 mandate.

Juliana Amato Lumumba, representing the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has introduced a platform titled “Nine new projects for a new Francophonie.” Her campaign focuses on making the organization more people-oriented, enhancing linguistic and cultural diversity, and improving digital knowledge access. She is supported by the Congolese government as an alternative to the incumbent, Louise Mushikiwabo, who is seeking a third term.

Other candidates include Mauritanian former minister Coumba Ba and former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș, who emphasizes economic issues and operational efficiency. The election occurs amid diplomatic tensions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, with Kinshasa openly opposing Mushikiwabo’s reelection. While the position was traditionally filled by consensus, it can now be decided by a simple majority.