Opinion piece | November 8, 2026
On April 25, just days after the announcement of Coumba Bâ’s candidacy for the Secretary General of La Francophonie, I published a call to support her in Financial Afrik. As the Phnom Penh Summit approaches, my conviction remains: the issue is not to choose between qualified personalities but to select the one who will best address the political and institutional challenges of La Francophonie.
This conviction is based on my experience with the institution. From my early collaborations with the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF) in Quebec City to coordinating the academic and scientific component of the first World Forum on the French Language in 2012, I have supported several Francophone initiatives. Together with Jean-François Simard, I co-directed the collective work A Francophonie in Search of Meaning, published in 2014 by the Presses de l’Université Laval. I then contributed to the work of the OIF on youth policies, particularly around the Francophone Youth Strategy adopted in Dakar in 2014, before joining the Organization in Paris as a specialist in youth public policies. My appreciation thus stems from both field experience and an understanding of the internal workings of the OIF.
Restoring Dialogue with the Sahel
The first urgency is political and security-related. The deterioration of the situation in the Sahel and the distancing of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from traditional cooperation frameworks weaken the entire region. Respecting the sovereign choices of these states does not preclude maintaining channels of dialogue. On the contrary: La Francophonie could offer a space for pragmatic rapprochement, without claiming to replace regional organizations or states.
How can we build sustainable responses to security crises, population displacements, and migration challenges without involving the countries most directly affected? An African proverb summarizes it well: “You do not shave someone’s head in their absence.” Francophone diplomacy must precisely contribute to bringing these interlocutors back to the table.
In this regard, Coumba Bâ has unique assets. Her background in various Mauritanian presidential cabinets, her knowledge of African capitals, and her negotiation experience give her familiarity with the political balances of the Sahel. Mauritania itself underwent an institutional rupture in 2008 and suffered a series of terrorist attacks between 2005 and 2011 while it was at the heart of power. This experience, although unique, does not guarantee success in mediation; however, it constitutes a valuable resource for reconnecting difficult ties.
Remobilizing the OIF without Renouncing Rigor
The second urgency concerns the women and men who sustain the Organization. Since the departure of the Diouf-Duhaime team, the debate over budget rationalization has sometimes overshadowed the OIF’s primary vocation: to concretely support states in education, governance, youth, and development. Financial discipline is essential; it must not become an end in itself.
The challenge is therefore not to oppose reform and mission but to reconcile them. An international organization is judged as much by the quality of its management as by the usefulness of its programs and the mobilization of its staff. Assessments of recent restructurings would, of course, benefit from being supported by a comprehensive social and budgetary report; nonetheless, they raise a legitimate question of governance.
I have heard Coumba Bâ remind, during Francophone ministerial meetings, that many youth ministries resemble “armies of generals without soldiers.” She highlighted the lack of operational resources and technical personnel, which too often prevents public policies from producing their effects. This attention to the teams responsible for execution is, in my view, an essential quality for leading the OIF: to reform, yes, but without demobilizing those who implement the programs.
Making the Choice of Secretary General a Shared Responsibility
The campaign of the Mauritanian candidate has also highlighted a principle too often neglected: the future of La Francophonie is the responsibility of all its members. It would be convenient to ask only African states to produce a consensus and then blame them for any divergence. African, European, and North American states have legitimate, sometimes differing interests. The search for an agreement must involve them equally in responsibility.
The new selection procedure, with formal hearings of candidates, makes this requirement more visible. Consensus remains desirable, but it cannot result from pressure exerted on a single region. The ability to listen to divergent positions, to negotiate without humiliating, and to preserve unity in diversity will be crucial for the next leadership. During this campaign, I heard Ms. Bâ defend the right to divergence of member countries with as much passion and conviction as her own candidacy. This speaks volumes about the greatness of the person and her predisposition to integrate different viewpoints as a leader.
Preserving the Coherence and Credibility of La Francophonie
Finally, there remains a demand for coherence. The OIF defends constitutional legality, democracy, and respect for common rules. In the name of these principles, it suspends and sometimes excludes certain members. Its own governance must be perceived as faithful to these principles. A decision felt to be dictated by opaque arrangements risks undermining its credibility, particularly with a youth that expects more transparency and results from institutions.
Quebec, Canada, African states, and European partners will each have their priorities. It would be risky to presume their votes or to present the balance of positions as immutable rules. But all have an interest in avoiding a leadership choice that deepens fractures within the Francophone space. The current debate, to which demographer Richard Marcoux has notably contributed in an article published on November 8 in the magazine L’Actualité, reminds us how this election involves more than just a simple succession.
The four candidacies in the running are of high quality. Acknowledging their value does not preclude advocating for a choice. For my part, I believe that Coumba Bâ possesses three qualities that the OIF particularly needs today: a deep knowledge of states and their sensitivities, especially those of the Sahel, a culture of negotiation, and a concrete attention to the implementation of public policies.
In Phnom Penh, states will not only choose a personality. They will decide on the capacity of La Francophonie to restore dialogue, mobilize its strengths, and remain true to its values. It is against this backdrop of responsibility that Coumba Bâ’s candidacy seems to deserve their trust.
