DR Congo, Rwanda clash over leadership as Francophone summit opens

A summit of French-speaking nations has opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, amid a leadership dispute between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) is currently meeting for two days, with leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron seeking to maintain unity and prevent a walkout by the organization's largest African member.

Tensions have arisen regarding the reelection of Louise Mushikiwabo, who has led the OIF for eight years and is seeking a third term. According to the New Straits Times, the DR Congo is strongly opposed to her reelection and has threatened to quit the organization if she is chosen on Monday. This potential departure follows previous withdrawals from the OIF by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

The dispute is framed by broader friction between DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's Paul Kagame. The New Straits Times reports that Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 armed group activities within DR Congo, a claim that Kigali denies.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Punch, New Straits Times — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.