Kinshasa, November 12th, 2026 (CPA).– Congolese women have expressed their support for the candidacy of Juliana Lumumba for the position of Secretary-General of the International Organizationof The Francophone (OIF), during a gathering held on Thursday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “Once again, we are gathered today in a spirit of patriotism, solidarity and historical responsibility to make the voices of Congolese women heard at a decisive moment in the history of our country and of the Francophone. That is why we are gathered here to solemnly and unequivocally proclaim our full, firm and unwavering support for MsJuliana Amato Lumumba’s candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the OIF,” said Odette Babandoa, President of the Association Women United for the Nation (FUNAT). Ms. Babandoaemphasized national unity, highlighting the solidarity of Congolese women whenever the country’s supreme interests are at stake. “We have a duty to rise above our political, social, philosophical and religious differences in order to uphold what matters most. Our mobilisation is directed against no one. It is not driven by any hostility towards any nation. Rather, it is the positive expression of a legitimate ambition,” she said. She also addressed Juliana Lumumba’s family ties to the late Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba, stressing that her remarkable career makes her a legitimate candidate for the position of OIF Secretary-General.“Certainly, she bears the name of the late Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, an iconic figure of Congolese independence, African dignity and the emancipation of peoples. However, we refuse to reduce Ms Juliana Amato Lumumba to her family heritage alone. She has her own career, experience and vision. As a former Minister of Agriculture, a committed woman and an advocate of international cooperation and African economic diplomacy, she embodies an ambition that addresses the challenges of our time,” she added. Ms Babandoa said this ambition was that of a Francophone committed to peace rather than one confined to institutions; a Francophone that offers young people concrete opportunities and transforms the French language into an instrument for education, training, employment, entrepreneurship and economic development. She recalled that the DRC occupies a prominent position in the global Francophone community, owing to its population, the vastness of its territory, its cultural wealth, the vitality of its youth and its contribution to the international influence of the French language. However, she regretted that the country has never held the position of OIF Secretary-General. “The outgoing Secretary-General, who comes from the Republic of Rwanda, was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2023, even though Rwanda is an English-speaking country. Therefore, the OIF should be headed by a French-speaking country rather than an English-speaking one. “Meanwhile, the DRC has never been entrusted with such a responsibility,” she said. “We are asking for neither privileges nor favors. We are simply asking that neutrality should not be confused with the neutralization of the Congolese candidacy,” she stressed.
In her view, Congolese women must stand up and support their fellow Congolese woman who is running for the position of OIF Secretary-General. The 20th OIF Summit is scheduled to take place fromNovember 14th to 16th, 2026, with the main meetings scheduled for November 15thand 16th in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.