The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced it will withdraw Juliana Amato Lumumba from the race for Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and back Romanian candidate Dacian Cioloș.
The announcement was made on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during the 48th session of the Francophonie Ministerial Conference, just days before member states are expected to select the organisation’s next Secretary-General.
In a statement, the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move aimed to help member states reach consensus on a candidate capable of bringing different sides together.
“The DRC announces the withdrawal of Juliana Amato Lumumba’s candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the OIF, to facilitate consensus around a candidate capable of bringing different sides together,” the ministry said.
The government thanked Lumumba for her commitment throughout the campaign, stressing that the decision did not reflect any doubts about her abilities, qualifications or potential contribution to the organisation.
Kinshasa said the move was intended to ease tensions that had emerged during the process of selecting the next Secretary-General.
The DRC, which has the world’s largest French-speaking population, reaffirmed its commitment to a Francophonie founded on cooperation, respect for the organisation’s charter and shared values.
Following consultations between the DRC and Romania, Kinshasa confirmed that it had chosen to support Dacian Cioloș, the candidate presented by Bucharest.
“Following discussions between the DRC and Romania, Congo’s withdrawal opens the way for a joint initiative in support of Dacian Cioloș, the candidate presented by Romania, who is now supported by both countries,” the ministry stated.
The Congolese government said the initiative was intended to bring member states closer together and create the conditions for the broadest possible consensus.
However, Kinshasa stressed that compromise should not be a one-sided effort, calling on other candidates and the countries supporting them to demonstrate the same willingness to reach an agreement.
Although the DRC did not explicitly state that its decision was intended to prevent Louise Mushikiwabo from securing another term, the move comes amid diplomatic tensions surrounding her bid for re-election.
Kinshasa had previously indicated that it could withdraw from the OIF if Mushikiwabo, a Rwandan national, was re-elected.
Reports have also suggested that France has been involved in efforts to find a compromise candidate acceptable to OIF member states, amid concerns that tensions between Rwanda and the DRC could divide the organisation.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told IGIHE that Mushikiwabo’s candidacy remains in the race.
The election of the next OIF Secretary-General for the 2027–2030 term is scheduled for November 16, 2026, in Phnom Penh.
Reporting clarification: The Congolese announcement describes a joint move in support of Cioloș, although an earlier report by Actualité.cd characterised Kinshasa’s position as being willing to consider withdrawing Lumumba’s candidacy. The official statement and subsequent reporting indicate that the two countries have agreed to support Cioloș.