Rwandan President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the morning of November 12, 2026, ahead of the President’s participation in the 20th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between Rwanda and Cambodia.
According to the Office of the President, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame are scheduled to meet King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace on the morning of November 13, where they will hold discussions.
Following the meeting, the presidential couple will visit Cambodia’s Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, as well as the memorial dedicated to former King Norodom Sihanouk, the father of King Sihamoni.
In the afternoon, President Kagame is expected to hold separate meetings with Senate President Hun Sen and National Assembly President Khuon Sudary before meeting Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Rwanda and Cambodia are also expected to sign cooperation agreements covering trade, investment, air transport and tourism.
President Kagame will participate in the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh on November 15 and 16, 2026.
The summit will focus on strengthening efforts to promote peace as a foundation for shared development and lasting security.
The meeting will also be particularly significant for Rwanda, as leaders of the 53 OIF member states and governments are expected to elect the organisation’s Secretary-General for the 2027–2030 term.
Rwanda’s incumbent Secretary-General, Louise Mushikiwabo, is among the candidates seeking another term. She will face competition from Juliana Amato Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Coumba Ba of Mauritania and Dacian Cioloș of Romania.
The election is scheduled for November 16.
Cambodia is hosting the Francophonie Summit for the first time, marking another milestone for the organisation’s presence in Southeast Asia.
It is also the first time the summit has been held in Southeast Asia since the 1997 gathering in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The meeting brings together leaders of French-speaking countries to discuss cooperation, international relations, peace, security and development.