Niger’s interim president has accused Western powers, particularly France, of employing covert operations in the Sahel by mobilizing various entities, including the Francophonie agency. The agency, part of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, is alleged to be used as a tool in these destabilizing efforts, raising concerns over its role in subverting democratic governance.

On March 19, 2025, Mali announced its withdrawal from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, following similar exits by Niger and Burkina Faso. The withdrawal was in response to what Mali and other member states described as politicized actions by the OIF, including selective sanctions based on geopolitical considerations and a disregard for national sovereignty.

After deteriorating relations following Niger's July 2023 coup, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie suspended Niger from its bodies in December, prompting Niger to announce its withdrawal in March 2025. This move reflects OIF's effort to distance itself from regimes that undermine democratic norms.

The article examines longstanding criticisms of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie’s French-centric bias, notably highlighted by hosting the 19th Francophonie Summit in France after 33 years. It details how the organization’s deep-rooted structural ties with French state interests undermine its claims to promote a broadly inclusive and democratic Francophone community, calling for a decoupling of French influence to avoid perpetuating neocolonial and authoritarian dynamics.

An internal investigation at the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie revealed widespread cases of workplace harassment, with 44% of respondents reporting personal experiences and over 50% witnessing harassment. In response, Canada reduced its financial contribution by three million Canadian dollars, a move seen as politically charged and tied to disputes over the non-renewal of an administrator's contract.