Since the arrival of Louise Mushikiwabo at the head of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), three presidential elections have been held in the French-speaking world, particularly in Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Senegal. As is customary in this organization, after the confirmation of the results by the high court of the country, the Secretary General of La Francophonie warmly congratulates the newly elected President.
The new Secretary-General has not departed from tradition, but the impression we get from reading press releases is that selectivity and double standards prevail over neutrality.
In Madagascar, the unfortunate candidate Marc Ravalomanana had not waited for the final count to call for massive fraud. He even claimed that “the results announced by the CENI were unreliable […] all Malagasy who felt to have suffered an injustice and a violation of their right and their vote, to stand up and dare to defend their choice”. But after the confirmation by the high constitutional court of the country, the OIF issued a press release, available on the website of the Organization, which reads: “The Secretary General of La Francophonie, Mrs. Louise Mushikiwabo, Taking note of the proclamation by the High Constitutional Court (HCC) on January 8, 2019, of the final results of the presidential election in Madagascar, warmly congratulates Mr. Andry Nirina Rajoelina for his brilliant election. ”
In Senegal, the opponents Idrissa Seck and Ousmane Sonko had not failed to shout at the fraud, even if they had not filed their petition to contest the results. But after the proclamation by the Constitutional Council, a press release was published by the OIF, one could read: “The Secretary General of La Francophonie, Mrs. Louise Mushikiwabo, followed with the greatest attention the proclamation by the Constitutional Council , March 5, 2019, the final results of the presidential election of February 24, 2019 in Senegal. She takes this opportunity to address, in her personal name and on behalf of the entire Francophonie, her heartfelt and sincere congratulations to HE Mr. Macky Sall for his re-election as President of the Republic of Senegal “.
In the DRC, however, two press releases were issued in succession, the first just after the publication of provisional results: “Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of La Francophonie, notes the publication on 10 January 2019 by the Commission National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), provisional results of the presidential election and provincial elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo […] The Secretary-General stresses the decisive nature of the presidential election, the national legislative elections and the provincial elections in progress for the peace, stability and development of the DRC, and beyond, of the subregion … Mrs. Louise Mushikiwabo calls on political and civil society actors, as well as the population, to contribute to maintaining a peaceful climate and privilege in all circumstances the dialogue and the best interests of the Congolese people pending the proclamation final results by the Constitutional Court … “.
The second communiqué, on the eve of the confirmation of the final results by the Constitutional Court, reads: “Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of La Francophonie, follows with the greatest attention the evolution of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo . In this regard, it welcomes the important African initiative which resulted in the high-level consultative meeting in Addis Ababa, on 17 January 2019, of a delegation of Heads of State and Government and the President of the Commission. of the African Union on the situation in that country. The Secretary General expresses the support of La Francophonie for this African initiative and encourages all Congolese actors to be part of this dynamic aimed at contributing to a consensual, fair and peaceful outcome of the electoral process under way “.
In a tweet dated 18 January, Ms Mushikiwabo writes: “La Francophonie strongly supports the conclusions of the high-level meeting on the DRC, the Heads of State and Government of SADC, the ICGLR and the African countries sitting in the DRC. Security Council of the United Nations held yesterday in Addis Ababa.
But since the confirmation of the victory of Felix Tshisekedi by the Constitutional Court, it is a radio silence on the side of the OIF, while this election has been well received by the Congolese population as well as the international community. We have visited the OIF website many times, not a word about it.
Hopefully, at the 106th session of the Permanent Council of La Francophonie (CPF) scheduled for March 26 in Paris, the personal representative of the Head of State, Ambassador Isabel Machik Ruth Tshombe, will not fail to remind the Secretary The DRC is the second largest French-speaking country in the world and Kinshasa is the capital, the largest French-speaking city. Moreover, how much the Congolese are attached to the French language and that the OIF retains all its relevance by adopting a neutral posture.
I hope I am wrong, but in any case, I am among those who think that Mrs Mushikiwabo would do better to completely remove her previous hats and to fully take on her new cap as Secretary General of La Francophonie, serving all Member States . It should shield the IOF from the selectivity and double standards that undermine the confidence of the French-speaking public in the Organization.
Isidore KWANDJA NGEMBO, Political scientist
