Mushikiwabo wants three Sahel states to return to Francophonie

Louise Mushikiwabo told France 24 interviewer Marc Perelman on Friday she wants three Sahel states back in the Francophonie if re-elected at its November summit in Cambodia.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger left the International Organisation of La Francophonie, known as the OIF, in 2025. Asked whether she would seek their return if given another term as secretary-general, Mushikiwabo said: “I would like nothing more.”

She said she had tried to meet the countries’ leaders after they left but had received no response. “I would very much like these states to return to the family,” she said.

The OIF brings together countries and governments with ties to the French language. Its work also covers education, culture, democracy and development. Leaders will meet at its summit in Cambodia in November, where they are due to choose the organisation’s next secretary-general.

Mushikiwabo, who has led the OIF since 2019, is seeking a third term. She said she regretted the departure of the three countries, which followed their suspension after military coups. She attributed their withdrawal to wider geopolitical tensions and said she did not consider it a failure of the OIF.

Perelman asked why Guinea, which also experienced a military coup, had remained in the organisation. Mushikiwabo said Guinea had approached the OIF for support during its political transition. Decisions on how to respond to crises, she said, were made by member states under rules they had agreed to.

The interview also turned to the contest for the OIF’s leadership. Mushikiwabo said she welcomed a vote if leaders could not agree on a candidate, as they have done in previous selections.

“I am not afraid of the vote,” she said.

By Elisa UWINEZA