Louise Mushikiwabo Pitches Modernization, Economic Growth, and AI for OIF in Bid for New Mandate
At an extraordinary ministerial conference chaired by Cambodia, Louise Mushikiwabo, the current Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), presented a robust defense of her tenure and an ambitious roadmap for the future as she seeks a new mandate. Outlining a multi-term strategy, Mushikiwabo pitched a vision to make the Francophonie a more influential, unified, and well-governed space aligned with contemporary global challenges.
Restructuring and Modernization
Mushikiwabo highlighted her extensive efforts to modernize the organization since taking office in 2019. Emphasizing transparent governance, she noted that the OIF’s financial accounts have been officially certified every year since 2019. To ensure greater impact and more concrete results, she streamlined the organization’s cooperation offerings, reducing the number of projects from 49 to 20. Half of these consolidated projects were decentralized to external regional offices, which were bolstered by three new representations in Beirut, Tunis, and Quebec.
Navigating Geopolitical Crises
Addressing the “troubled times” facing the global community, Mushikiwabo acknowledged the multifaceted crises of climate, health, and democratic erosion. She directly addressed the 2025 departure of three founding Sahel nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—expressing sincere regret while noting that it was the “consequence of a geopolitical dynamic that largely exceeds our organization”. She assured delegates that the OIF’s door remains “wide open” for these countries, emphasizing that cultural and human ties remain stronger than temporary political circumstances.
Under her leadership, the OIF has also shifted its political strategy regarding member states facing constitutional crises. Rather than relying on a binary logic of immediate suspension, the organization now favors an agile approach of continuous dialogue and transitional support to remain a “useful interlocutor”.
Economic Integration and Youth Employment
A central pillar of Mushikiwabo’s pitch was the “Economic Francophonie.” She highlighted the success of OIF economic missions launched in 2022, which have attracted nearly 2,000 businesses from 30 countries and resulted in over 100 commercial agreements. “I often say, and it is not a joke, that poetry is not incompatible with prosperity,” she stated, arguing that a linguistic community can seamlessly function as a community of economic opportunity.
Youth employment remains a critical priority for her proposed upcoming term. Noting that over 26,000 young people benefited from OIF training programs between 2024 and 2026, she announced plans to drastically scale these efforts. Through a newly signed agreement with the African Development Bank, the OIF aims to increase the number of youths trained in digital professions from 20,000 to 100,000. To fund these expansions, she plans to heavily pursue private sector investments, citing recent partnerships with Total Energies and regional development banks.
The Future: Artificial Intelligence and Combating Disinformation
Looking toward a potential 2027 mandate, Mushikiwabo identified artificial intelligence (AI) and the fight against disinformation as urgent priorities. She committed to treating the inclusion of girls in AI not just as a distinct project, but as a “transversal dimension” across all OIF initiatives. Furthermore, she warned that disinformation is a “true scourge today for all our states” and pledged to expand current counter-disinformation programs already active in several member countries.
To prevent the decline of the French language worldwide, she stressed the need for massive investments in teaching and digital tools. She praised the success of the OIF’s “mobility of teachers” program—which deploys French educators to countries like Rwanda, Seychelles, Ghana, and Cambodia—and called for it to be scaled up as a shared responsibility between the OIF and member states.
A Diverse Identity
Mushikiwabo concluded her address by celebrating the vast geographic and cultural diversity of the OIF’s leadership team, viewing it as the organization’s greatest strength. Describing her own deep connection to the Francophonie’s mission, she offered a defining self-portrait to the delegates: “I am an uninhibited Francophone with several identities,” proudly affirming her roots as a Rwandan, a deeply African citizen, and a citizen of the world.
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