The Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie ( OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, held talks on Thursday with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe. They focused on preparations for the upcoming Francophonie Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for November 19–20, 2025, in Kigali.
This high-level meeting will gather foreign ministers and senior representatives from member states to deliberate on key political, economic, and cultural priorities within the Francophone community. It is the first time Rwanda will host the OIF Ministerial Session, the previous one having taken place in Paris.
During the discussions, Mushikiwabo and Minister Nduhungirehe reviewed logistical and organizational arrangements, highlighting Rwanda’s commitment to ensuring a successful and inclusive meeting. They also discussed enhancing cooperation between OIF and Rwanda in promoting the French language, cultural exchange, digital innovation, and youth empowerment.
“The Kigali meeting is not only a milestone for Rwanda but also an opportunity for the Francophone community to reaffirm shared values of cooperation, dialogue, and sustainable development,” Mushikiwabo said, according to an OIF statement.
Rwanda joined the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie in 1970 as one of its founding members. Despite adopting English as one of its official national languages in 2008, Rwanda continues to actively promote multilingualism and regional cooperation.
The OIF currently has 93 members: 56 full members, 5 associate members, and 32 observers. It represents more than 1.2 billion people worldwide who share not only the French language but also values centered on peace, democracy, and human rights.
Hosting the ministerial meeting in Kigali signals confidence in Rwanda’s growing international diplomatic role and its commitment to bridging linguistic and cultural communities across Africa and beyond.
