Kinshasa, 12 November 2026 (ACP).-Nine projects have been presented by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the International Organizationof The Francophone (OIF), Juliana Amato Lumumba, with a view to revitalizing the organization, during an event held in the DRC.
“Nine new projects for a new Francophonie. This is how Juliana Amato Lumumba’s vision for revitalising La Francophonie can be summed up. It is built around nine major strategic pillars.“The plan is structured around several areas, including culture, the economy, the environment, peace, justice and symbolism,” said Dr Lis Lombeya, representative of the Association Women United for the Nation (FUNAT). According to her, the project covers several areas, including culture, the economy, the environment, peace and justice. “On the cultural front, the vision first provides for the promotion of an intercultural exchange program among Francophone countries, as well as the preservation of local heritage, values and languages through genuine intercultural dialogue and the sharing of traditions in dance, culture and lifestyles within the Francophone community,” she said.
On the economic front, Dr Lombeya said the DRC’s candidacy for the OIF proposes encouraging industrial co-production and strengthening economic cooperation among Francophone countries by promoting each country’s resources and specific strengths. “On the environmental front, it advocates the establishment of a solidarity-based ecological transition, drawing on the immense natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other Francophone countries to protect the environment and combat climate change,” she said. With regard to peace, the vision proposes “strengthening dialogue, mutual understanding and social cohesion through the shared and harmonized use of the French language, notably through an Academy of The Francophone for Peace and Living Together”.
Finally, on the symbolic front, Ms Juliana Lumumba proposes the “creation of a common anthem designed to bring peoples together, strengthen unity and consolidate the spirit of solidarity within the Francophone community,” the FUNAT representative continued. She emphasized the DRC’s strong support for, and central and indispensable role within, The Francophone. “These proposals are based on the DRC’s central and indispensable role within The Francophone, both in terms of its demographic weight and its strategic natural resources, particularly its role as a ‘green lung’, its major forest reserves, which absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), and its mineral-rich subsoil. These assets make the country a driving force for development, economic growth and environmental protection throughout the Francophone world,” she said. The 20th OIF Summit is scheduled to take place from November 14th to 16th, 2026, with the main meetings scheduled for 15 and 16 November in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.