ISCA2025: Mushikiwabo advocates for African autonomy

The Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, stressed the importance for Africa to define its own priorities and organize itself effectively to promote and defend them on the international scene.

Louise Mushikiwabo made these remarks during a presentation on strengthening Africa’s voice on the international stage at the International Conference on Security in Africa (ISCA), which began on May 19 in Kigali.

She said that in the past, Africa seemed to be excluded from the international community, to the point that its leaders sometimes threatened the organization not to allow them to do certain things.

“When I was foreign minister, I was very surprised because they told us that there were things that the international community would not allow us to do, as if Africa was not part of the international community,” she said indignantly.

“It is in Africa’s interest to have many partners.” Louise Mushikiwabo

She stressed that thanks to the organizations to which countries adhere and the ongoing cooperation they have established, they have been able to unite their voices on many issues that have benefited Africa.

She cited the example of the election of WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for his first term. All African countries, she recalled, united to support his candidacy, and his years at the helm of the organization made a significant contribution to Africa.

She said Africa should pursue its interests by working with all those who can help it achieve its goals.

“It is in Africa’s interest to have many partners. It is in our interest to trade in different parts of the world and seek advantages in New York, Beijing, Abu Dhabi, or Doha. Africa’s interest today is to choose partners who will help us achieve our goals as Africans,” she insisted.

She added that Africa has set itself a vision 2063 that will help it in its development, where it aspires to be united, where it will have achieved sustainable development, where security and democracy are everywhere and where it has a voice on the international scene.

ISCA provides a platform for its partners through high-level conferences

The International Conference on Security in Africa (ISCA) is an international non-governmental organization whose mission is to foster dialogue, collaboration and the search for concrete solutions to address security challenges across the African continent.

ISCA provides a platform for its partners, including policymakers, security experts, civil society and researchers, through high-level conferences, research initiatives and policy engagements aimed at promoting peace, stability and sustainable development.

The work of this conference was officially launched on May 19 in Kigali by the Rwandan head of state, Paul Kagame.

On this occasion, President Kagame declared that Africa’s security challenges must be the responsibility of Africans themselves.