# 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie

The 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, also known as IXes Jeux de la Francophonie (French for 9th Francophone Games), informally Kinshasa 2023 (Lingala: Kinsásá 2023), were a multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 6, 2023, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was the first edition of the games to be hosted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Originally awarded on April 7, 2016, to Moncton and Dieppe. On January 30, 2019, the New Brunswick government cancelled its commitment to host the games due to funding issues. The games were awarded to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2019.
In 2020, the games were moved from 2021 to 2022 to avoid clashing with the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics. They were postponed once again in 2022, to 2023 due to delays.
Several countries withdrew from the games or sent reduced delegations due to health and safety concerns including team Canada, Quebec, New Brunswick and France.

## Organisation
### First selection

Among the interested hosts were Moncton-Dieppe, New Brunswick, Sherbrooke, Quebec and the french island of Guadeloupe. After the advisory committee of the international committee of the Francophonie Games decided to support New Brunswick, the Quebec government announced that it was joining the consensus reached, would step aside and support New Brunswick's bid. The games were officially awarded in Paris on April 7, 2016, to Moncton and Dieppe as the sole remaining bid.
Venues for the games were to include Universite de Moncton's Moncton Stadium, and facilities at Mount Allison University and Crandall University. New Brunswick Community College in Dieppe was expected to host the event's cultural activities. Up to 4,000 athletes and artists were expected to participate.
Initially expected to cost $17.5 million, costs grew by 664 per cent to $130 million. On January 30, 2019, the New Brunswick government cancelled its commitment to host the games due to funding issues.

### Second selection

The city council of Sherbrooke, Quebec passed a motion in February 2019 expressing support for hosting the game provided the city receive financial support from the federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Quebec.
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie issued a new call on 1 March 2019 for bids to host the games with a deadline of 31 May 2019 for submissions. The games were awarded to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2019.

## Controversies

Less than a month before the Games, several teams withdrew due to health and safety concerns. Quebec canceled its participation, while Canada and New Brunswick participated with reduced delegations. France limited itself to a few events, refusing, among other things, to send participants for athletics and cycling events. Wallonia-Brussels only sent participants for cultural events, expressing concerns about the state of sports infrastructure. Some delegations, including the Canadian one, hired additional security teams.
The general secretary of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, did not attend the opening ceremony of the games. Against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, she claims that her invitation was never sent to her. She was replaced by Caroline St-Hilaire, administrator of the OIF.
In October 2023 Nicolas Kazadi, the Congolese Minister of Finance, estimated that the cost of the games was ultimately multiplied by seven. According to figures published by the minister, the initial budget of $48 million ultimately reached $324 million.

## Participants

Of the 93 member countries and governments of the Francophonie, only 34 sent their delegations.
* Participating members
* Armenia
* Benin
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Canada
* Canada New Brunswick
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Democratic Republic of the Congo (host)
* Republic of Congo
* Djibouti
* Equatorial Guinea
* France
* Gabon
* Guinea
* Ivory Coast
* Kosovo
* Lebanon
* Madagascar
* Mali
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Niger
* Romania
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* St. Lucia
* Switzerland
* Togo
* Tunisia
* United Arab Emirates
* Vietnam
* Wallonia-Brussels

## Venues
### Sport Venues

| Venue | Sports |
| Stade des Martyrs - Terrain annexe | Athletics, Para-athletics |
| Stade des Martyrs - Gymnasium | Basketball |
| Stade des Martyrs | Football (Final and Semi-finals) |
| Stade de Barumbu | Football (Group stage) |
| Stade Tata Raphaël | Football (Group stage) |
| Stade Tata Raphaël - Gymnasium | Judo, Wrestling (Freestyle) |
| Stade Tata Raphaël - Salle de Tennis de Table | Table tennis |
| Esplanade Fikin | Wrestling (African) |

### Cultural Venues

| Venue | Event |
| National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Painting, Photography, Sculpture |
| Echangeur de Limete | Hip-hop dance, Juggling, Puppetry |
| Palais du Peuple | Song |
| Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles | Storytelling |
| Institut Français - Halle de la Gombe | Digital creation |
| Délégation Wallonie-Bruxelles | Literature |

## Medal table

Final medal tally below.
* Host nation (DR Congo)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Morocco | 23 | 16 | 19 | 58 |
| 2 | Romania | 17 | 9 | 12 | 38 |
| 3 | Cameroon | 13 | 13 | 14 | 40 |
| 4 | Senegal | 10 | 9 | 6 | 25 |
| 5 | Burkina Faso | 7 | 4 | 8 | 19 |
| 6 | France | 7 | 4 | 4 | 15 |
| 7 | Ivory Coast | 6 | 5 | 4 | 15 |
| 8 | Mauritius | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| 9 | DR Congo* | 5 | 11 | 19 | 35 |
| 10 | Canada | 4 | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| 11 | Djibouti | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 12 | Niger | 3 | 8 | 7 | 18 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 14 | Armenia | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 15 | Lebanon | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| 16 | Chad | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| 17 | Tunisia | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 18 | Kosovo | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 19 | Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 20 | Guinea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | Benin | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 22 | Congo | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| 23 | Togo | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 24 | Gabon | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 25 | Burundi | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 25 | Mali | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 27 | French Community of Belgium | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 28 | New Brunswick | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 29 | Equatorial Guinea | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Vietnam | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (30 entries) | Totals (30 entries) | 119 | 119 | 144 | 382 |

## Medalists
### African wrestling

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men's team | Senegal Babacar Diène Mamadou Diouf Modou Faye Gora Niang Siny Sembène | Niger Djamilou Bakoye Bajini Noura Hassane Salou Aboubacar Ibrahim Mahaman Mansour Issa Saley Zakirou Zakari Abdourahamane | Burkina Faso Iyassa Bado Karim Basongo Koni Diallo Siaka Konate Kevin Mosse |
| Men's 66 kg | Djamilou Bakoye Bajini Niger | Iyassa Bado Burkina Faso | Babacar Diène Senegal |
| Men's 76 kg | Mamadou Diouf Senegal | Mansour Issa Saley Niger | Koni Diallo Burkina Faso |
| Men's 86 kg | Aboubacar Ibrahim Mahaman Niger | Pierrot Mayakapongo Kabuanga DR Congo | Siny Sembène Senegal |
| Men's 100 kg | Gora Niang Senegal | Alaza Sayibia Togo | Noura Hassane Salou Niger |
| Men's +100 kg | Modou Faye Senegal | Idriss Bousseina Chad | Zakirou Zakari Abdourahamane Niger |
| Women's team | Cameroon Rose Namondo Kombe Natacha Nabaina Blodine Nyeh Ngui Rosine Ntsa Assouga Pélagiie Wilita | Chad Bamdra Eldjoumba Bamaye Godah Samsia Gassida Lubahitar Josta Issa Zara | DR Congo Djenny Boenga Eyale Ndombe Kiengi Prisca Madunu Mira Mbala Rosie Tabora |
| Women's 48 kg | N'De Caroline Yapi Ivory Coast | Rosine Ntsa Assouga Cameroon | Lubahitar Josta Chad |
| Women's 53 kg | Rose Namondo Kombe Cameroon | Beatrice Ionela Ferent Romania | Mama Marie Sambou Senegal |
| Women's 58 kg | Zineb Hassoune Morocco | Mariatou Diallo Senegal | Wendgounda Josiane Nabi Burkina Faso |
| Women's 63 kg | Blodine Nyeh Ngui Cameroon | Fatoumata Yarie Camara Guinea | Malala Soloniaina Madagascar |
| Women's 70 kg | Amy Youin Ivory Coast | Pélagiie Wilita Cameroon | Adina Ionela Irimia Romania |

### Basketball

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Women | Senegal Aminata Tall Seynabou Ndoye Seynabou Dieye Mame Coumba Fall Coumba Niang Julie Dacosta Aminata Ly Khadija Faye Ndioma Kane Aissatou Mame Fall Khadidiatou Bigue Sarr Laurence Sabine Diedhiou | Cameroon Michelle Noelle Nkolo Alie'A Vafon Joko Sema Ekah Paule Nkwetchou Njoukwe Salomé Bella Belong Loica Djuessie Youta Myriam Guiolobo Josiane Feumba Damaris Phalonne Emedie Audrey Batchaya Djofang Josiane Tcheumeleu Tientcheu | Madagascar Harisoa Hajanirina Nahitantsoa Rakotobe Marion Rasolofoson Elinah Ranarisaona Setratiana Manohisoa Avotra Marson Minaoharisoa Jaofera Malala Rasendrarison Harimihanta Andriatahina Jessica Vavisoa Angelissa Velontiana Lalaina Rasoanomenjanahary |

### Cultural

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Creative dance | Cie Fientan Burkina Faso | Cie Les Algues DR Congo | Cie Siwa Carmelita Benin |
| Digital creation | VieAir 2.26 Burkina Faso | Paul Malaba DR Congo | Bj Vision Gabon |
| Hip-hop dance | Team Léopard DR Congo | Power Crew Bboying Senegal | One Nation Wallonia |
| Juggling | Stylers Crew Morocco | CIV freestyle team Ivory Coast | FECOFREE DR Congo |
| Literature | Jocelyn Danga Motty DR Congo | Cécile Hupin Wallonia | Valentin Decoppet Switzerland |
| Painting | Richianny Raherinjatovo Madagascar | Fally Sène Sow Senegal | Glodi Mbela Mambueni DR Congo |
| Photography | Mary Madanamootoo Mauritius | Ralff Lhyliann Congo | Adrien Tache France |
| Puppetry | Les Marionnettes du Congo DR Congo | KAdam-KAdam Togo | Collectif Sannu-Sannu Niger |
| Sculpture | Senou Anthelme Lokossou Benin | Fitiavana Ratovo Andriantseheno Madagascar | Kwami Dodji Agbetoglo Togo |
| Song | Nda Chi Cameroon | Flora Paré Burkina Faso | Lerie Sankofa Ivory Coast |
| Storytelling | Hanna Samira Moumoula Burkina Faso | Mamane Iro Salifou Niger | Dan Bosembo Alonga DR Congo |

### Cycling

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men's road race | Achraf Ed Doghmy Morocco | Nasr-Eddine Maatougui Morocco | Cătălin Buta Romania |
| Women's road race | Salma Hariri Morocco | Chaimae Ez-Zakraoui Morocco | Wissal Baoubbou Morocco |

### Judo

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men's 60 kg | Ashik Andreyan Armenia | Alexandru Matei Romania | Enzo Jean France |
| Men's 60 kg | Ashik Andreyan Armenia | Alexandru Matei Romania | Arnold Kisoka DR Congo |
| Men's 66 kg | Julien Frascadore Canada | Fernand Nkero Gabon | Joe Haddad Lebanon |
| Men's 66 kg | Julien Frascadore Canada | Fernand Nkero Gabon | Lucian Borş-Dumitrescu Romania |
| Men's 73 kg | Hassan Doukkali Morocco | Gedéon Kasota DR Congo | Dardan Cena Kosovo |
| Men's 73 kg | Hassan Doukkali Morocco | Gedéon Kasota DR Congo | Alexandre Rubiano France |
| Men's 81 kg | David Popovici Canada | Tizie Gnamien France | Hamza Kabdani Morocco |
| Men's 81 kg | David Popovici Canada | Tizie Gnamien France | Kissouli Khaled Axel Konate Burkina Faso |
| Men's 90 kg | Alexandru Sibișan Romania | Alexandre Arencibia Canada | Thierry Lusamba DR Congo |
| Men's 90 kg | Alexandru Sibișan Romania | Alexandre Arencibia Canada | Vladimir Ngueya Naheu Cameroon |
| Men's 100 kg | Shpati Zekaj Kosovo | Eduard Serban Romania | Walid Boukhriss Morocco |
| Men's 100 kg | Shpati Zekaj Kosovo | Eduard Serban Romania | Libasse Ndiaye Senegal |
| Men's +100 kg | Khamzat Saparbaev France | John Jr. Messé A Bessong Canada | Mohammed Lahboub Morocco |
| Women's 48 kg | Anais Perrot France | Signoline Kanyamuneza Burundi | Aziza Chakir Morocco |
| Women's 48 kg | Anais Perrot France | Signoline Kanyamuneza Burundi | Charlize Isabelle Medilo Canada |
| Women's 52 kg | Marie Céline Baba Matia [es] Cameroon | Florina Bădiceanu Romania | Fatime Barka Segue Chad |
| Women's 52 kg | Marie Céline Baba Matia [es] Cameroon | Florina Bădiceanu Romania | Evelyn Beaton Canada |
| Women's 57 kg | Chloé Devictor [pl] France | Narindra Rakotovao Madagascar | Zalika Hassane Abdou Niger |
| Women's 57 kg | Chloé Devictor [pl] France | Narindra Rakotovao Madagascar | Wissal Ziane Morocco |
| Women's 63 kg | Rania Drid France | Isabelle Harris Canada | Chaimae Taibi Morocco |
| Women's 63 kg | Rania Drid France | Isabelle Harris Canada | Aqulina Chayeb Lebanon |
| Women's 70 kg | Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy [fr] Madagascar | Laurence Biron Canada | Oulaya Khairi Morocco |
| Women's 70 kg | Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy [fr] Madagascar | Laurence Biron Canada | Zita Ornella Biami Cameroon |
| Women's 78 kg | Liz Ngelebeya France | Coralie Godbout Canada | Georgika Wesly Djengue Moune Cameroon |
| Women's +78 kg | Tracy Durhone Mauritius | Emilie Daika Afang Obiang Gabon | Marie Claude Polneau Ivory Coast |
| Mixed team | Team Mbuji-Mayi Marie Baba Matia (CMR) Cheick Bamogo (BUR) Rosine Bodjrenou (BEN) Ioan Dzitac (ROU) Tizie Gnamien (FRA) Lizzie Joseph (MRI) Hafsa Yatim (MAR) | Team Paris Robert Beina Bangmo (CMR) Kadodjobe Cissé (CIV) Sasso Hassan Mohamed (DJI) Inès Irakiza (BDI) Isabelle Landu Malundama (COD) Khamzat Saparbaev (FRA) Wissal Ziane (MAR) | Team Bukavu Marie Alexsha Agathe (MRI) Chloé Devictor [pl] (FRA) Alberto Kems Bokandji (COD) Hillary Komba Ngwamidiba (GAB) Kissouli Konate (BUR) David Koung A Koung (CMR) Rianah Ramahefarison Harind (MAD) |
| Mixed team | Team Mbuji-Mayi Marie Baba Matia (CMR) Cheick Bamogo (BUR) Rosine Bodjrenou (BEN) Ioan Dzitac (ROU) Tizie Gnamien (FRA) Lizzie Joseph (MRI) Hafsa Yatim (MAR) | Team Paris Robert Beina Bangmo (CMR) Kadodjobe Cissé (CIV) Sasso Hassan Mohamed (DJI) Inès Irakiza (BDI) Isabelle Landu Malundama (COD) Khamzat Saparbaev (FRA) Wissal Ziane (MAR) | Team Beyrouth Anna Siga Faye (SEN) Winsley Gangaya (MRI) Gedéon Kasota Kisiati (COD) Ada Mounguengui (GAB) Ange Niragira (BDI) Fetra Ranaivoarisoa (MAD) Souleymane Seogo (BUR) |
Sources:

### Table tennis

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men's singles | Andrei Eduard Ionescu Romania | Fabio Rakotoarimanana Madagascar | Ylane Batix Cameroon |
| Men's singles | Andrei Eduard Ionescu Romania | Fabio Rakotoarimanana Madagascar | Exaucé Ngefuassa Ngyie DR Congo |
| Women's singles | Elena Adriana Zaharia Romania | Fadwa Garci Tunisia | Mariam El Habech Lebanon |
| Women's singles | Elena Adriana Zaharia Romania | Fadwa Garci Tunisia | Rima Khlghatyan Armenia |
| Mixed doubles | Romania Andrei Eduard Ionescu Elena Adriana Zaharia | Mauritius Ryan Desscann Sandhana Desscann | Cameroon Ylane Batix Juliana Mbock |
| Mixed doubles | Romania Andrei Eduard Ionescu Elena Adriana Zaharia | Mauritius Ryan Desscann Sandhana Desscann | Tunisia Youssef Ben Attia Fadwa Garci |
| Mixed team | Romania Andrei Eduard Ionescu Elena Adriana Zaharia | Tunisia Youssef Ben Attia Fadwa Garci | Gabon Andy Bringaud Louidiglisia Maloufa Minzie |
| Mixed team | Romania Andrei Eduard Ionescu Elena Adriana Zaharia | Tunisia Youssef Ben Attia Fadwa Garci | Lebanon Saadeddine El Habach Mariam El Habech |

### Wrestling

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men's freestyle 57 kg | Răzvan Marian Kovacs Romania | Omar Faye Senegal | Roland Tambi Nforsong Cameroon |
| Men's freestyle 57 kg | Răzvan Marian Kovacs Romania | Omar Faye Senegal | Arakel Movsesyan Armenia |
| Men's freestyle 61 kg | Vrezh Gevorgyan Armenia | Rabby Kilonga Kilandi DR Congo | Samuel Dohya Kale Cameroon |
| Men's freestyle 65 kg | Marwane Ahmed Yezza France | Hrachya Margaryan Armenia | Raby Bapelekia Congo |
| Men's freestyle 65 kg | Marwane Ahmed Yezza France | Hrachya Margaryan Armenia | Stefan Ionut Coman Romania |
| Men's freestyle 70 kg | Gevorg Mkheyan Armenia | Moukhammad Amin Sangariev France | Kaireddine Ben Telili Tunisia |
| Men's freestyle 70 kg | Gevorg Mkheyan Armenia | Moukhammad Amin Sangariev France | Jacques Monty Mbougou Cameroon |
| Men's freestyle 74 kg | Maxim Vasilioglo Romania | Aime Rakotoniaina Madagascar | Mamadou Diouf Senegal |
| Men's freestyle 74 kg | Maxim Vasilioglo Romania | Aime Rakotoniaina Madagascar | Guy Alain Lago Ivory Coast |
| Men's freestyle 79 kg | Andy Kabeya Mukendi DR Congo | Razmik Simonyan Armenia | Jean Claude Atongui Congo |
| Men's freestyle 79 kg | Andy Kabeya Mukendi DR Congo | Razmik Simonyan Armenia | Abou Nafou Zorome Burkina Faso |
| Men's freestyle 86 kg | Siny Sembène Senegal | Aboubacar Ibrahim Mahaman Niger | Barthelemy Tshosha DR Congo |
| Men's freestyle 92 kg | Cédric Abossolo Cameroon | Mihai Nicolae Palaghia Romania | Tommy Thomas Mabruki DR Congo |
| Men's freestyle 97 kg | Aron Isomi Mbo DR Congo | Askerkhan Khounkaev France | Aiden Kenneth Stevenson Canada |
| Men's freestyle 125 kg | Modou Faye Senegal | Reagan Mabuba DR Congo | Gires Tebou Cameroon |
| Women's freestyle 50 kg | Emma Luttenauer France | N'De Caroline Yapi Ivory Coast | Ana Maria Pîrvu Romania |
| Women's freestyle 50 kg | Emma Luttenauer France | N'De Caroline Yapi Ivory Coast | Chancelvie Gomba DR Congo |
| Women's freestyle 53 kg | Beatrice Ionela Ferent Romania | Lilya Cohen France | Mama Marie Sambou Senegal |
| Women's freestyle 53 kg | Beatrice Ionela Ferent Romania | Lilya Cohen France | Nguyễn Thị Oanh Vietnam |
| Women's freestyle 55 kg | Miriam Drock Ngoe Wase Cameroon | Makiese Prisca Madunu DR Congo | not awarded |
| Women's freestyle 57 kg | Zineb Hassoune Morocco | Faten Hammami Tunisia | Natacha Nabaina Cameroon |
| Women's freestyle 59 kg | Siwar Bouseta Tunisia | Kateryna Zhydachevska Romania | Amel Rebiha France |
| Women's freestyle 62 kg | Aleah Noelle Nickel Canada | Diwa Mervedie Mbemba DR Congo | Salmantou Coulibaly Burkina Faso |
| Women's freestyle 65 kg | Amina Roxana Capezan Romania | Blandine Nyeh Ngiri Cameroon | Vivian Mei Kutnowski New Brunswick |
| Women's freestyle 68 kg | Katie Nichole Mulkay Canada | Berthe Etane Ngolle Cameroon | Adina Ionela Irimia Romania |
| Women's freestyle 72 kg | Maria Larisa Niţu Romania | Nyla Raeleen Burgess Canada | Elena Sehic New Brunswick |
| Women's freestyle 72 kg | Maria Larisa Niţu Romania | Nyla Raeleen Burgess Canada | Danielle Sino Guemde Cameroon |
| Women's freestyle 76 kg | Cătălina Axente Romania | Amy Youin Ivory Coast | Erica Déborah Ngakali Congo |