Mushikiwabo, who has led the Francophone organisation since late 2018, said the strained relations have prevented her from travelling to Kinshasa.
'Because Kinshasa does not invite me, I have not travelled there. If the Congolese invite me, I will go,' she told Jeune Afrique, stressing her willingness to maintain diplomatic engagement despite the freeze.
Reacting to questions about supposed political tensions surrounding her candidacy, Mushikiwabo emphasised that the DRC's opposition is expected and political rather than a reflection of her performance.
'Every election comes with opposition, and some use it to settle political scores. The fact that my candidacy is divisive for the DRC is no surprise. I anticipated it, and it is part of the game,' she added.
Rwanda officially nominated Mushikiwabo for a third term in January, ahead of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. If re-elected, she would join former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf as the only Secretary General to serve three terms. Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told Jeune Afrique that the decision reflects Mushikiwabo's widely recognised leadership and achievements.
'At the last OIF ministerial conference in Kigali, several member states expressed their wish to see Louise Mushikiwabo run for a third term,' Nduhungirehe said in January. 'This recognition represents a strong political signal, which Rwanda has taken into account. Since 2019, under her leadership, the OIF has embarked on a deep, structured, and coherent transformation that has strengthened its political credibility, institutional clarity, and operational effectiveness. We are therefore fully confident in the success of this proposal.'
Despite opposition from Kinshasa and the intention of the DRC to field a rival candidate, Mushikiwabo remains confident.
'Honestly, I think this competition is good for the OIF. It shows the dynamism of our organization, its attractiveness. I am personally very serene regarding this candidacy and this election,' she said.
She described the upcoming vote at the Phnom Penh summit as an opportunity to demonstrate the organization's vitality, even in the face of competition.
With her accomplishments and Rwanda's backing, Mushikiwabo is positioning herself not only to secure a historic third term but also to expand the influence of the Francophonie, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and continue reforms that have shaped the organization over the past five years.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/tshisekedi-no-longer-wants-us-to-meet-louise-mushikiwabo
