Addis Ababa, 12 October 2018: The African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, welcomes the unanimous election of Louise Mushikiwabo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Rwanda, as the new Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), at the 17th OIF Summit, which concludes today in Yerevan, Armenia. He warmly congratulated Mrs Mushikiwabo, and notes that her selection is an international recognition of her outstanding qualities and rich experience, as well as of her commitment to multilateral cooperation.

The election of Mrs. Mushikiwabo is not only a victory for Rwanda, but for the entire continent. The African Union, at its Summit held in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 1-2 July 2018, unanimously endorsed Ms. Mushikiwabo's candidacy. As a follow-up to this decision, a number of initiatives were taken by the Commission to mobilize the widest possible support for this African candidacy.

The Chairperson of the Commission is confident that, with the election of Mrs. Mushikiwabo as the OIF Secretary- General, the African Union and La Francophonie will set new milestones in their partnership. The Commission will spare no effort to this end.