The long-running conflict between Paul Kagame's Rwanda and the Felix Tshisekedi-led Democratic Republic of Congo is now spilling into the world of Francophone diplomacy.

As leaders of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) meet, Congo is threatening to leave the bloc if Rwandan Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo is elected to a third term.

The dispute centers on allegations that Rwanda backs M23 rebels in eastern Congo, which Kagame has denied. Regional experts say the controversy is testing the OIF's unity, credibility and ability to uphold its values amid growing geopolitical tensions.

DW spoke with Kambale Musavuli, an independent consultant, policy analyst and Congolese human rights advocate based in Accra, and Paul-Simon Handy, from the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa.