DRCongo Nominates Julianna Lumumba to Challenge Louise Mushikiwabo for for OIF Secretary-General

Julianna Lumumba, daughter of Congo’s first Prime Minister Patrice-Emery Lumumba, has been officially nominated by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as its candidate for Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). The announcement was made Friday by the Congolese Ministry of Communication and Media.

A senior Congolese official told the Congolese Press Agency (ACP) that Lumumba’s candidacy carries significant weight. “The emotional significance and the importance of her name, combined with her competence and the full support of the nation, make her a highly credible candidate,” the official said.

Lumumba will compete against incumbent Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, whose second term ends in November 2026. Rwanda recently reaffirmed its support for Mushikiwabo, naming her as its candidate for a third term.

Juliana Lumumba