Title: Games of La Francophonie: the Secretary General of the OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo, absent in Kinshasa
Introduction :
The Games of La Francophonie, scheduled for Kinshasa, are experiencing a major disappointment: the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, will not be present. The strained relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda explain this absence. The Congolese authorities had ensured the presence of Louise Mushikiwabo during the opening ceremony, but her spokesperson confirmed that she would not come, failing to receive a formal invitation from the Congolese government.
A tense context between the DRC and Rwanda:
Bilateral relations between the DRC and Rwanda have been marked by tensions for several years. The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebellion, which has controlled part of the east of the country since last year. These tensions have repercussions on the participation of the Secretary General of the OIF in the Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa.
A missed invitation:
The Congolese authorities had announced that Louise Mushikiwabo would be present at the opening ceremony of the Games of La Francophonie as co-organizer. However, her spokeswoman said the formal invitation from the Congolese government was never extended to the secretary general. This lack of an invitation led Louise Mushikiwabo to reconsider her trip to Kinshasa.
The representation of the OIF by Caroline St-Hilaire:
Despite the absence of Louise Mushikiwabo, the OIF will be represented in Kinshasa by the administrator Caroline St-Hilaire. The spokesperson for the Secretary General stressed the importance of the Games going well for French-speaking youth, despite this inconvenience.
Conclusion :
The absence of the General Secretary of the OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo, at the Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa testifies to the political tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. Despite this, the organization remains committed to promoting the event for the well-being of young Francophones