Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni received President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Friday, November 13, 2026, during an official ceremony held in their honour.
The ceremony was followed by talks between President Kagame and King Norodom Sihamoni, aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations and cooperation between Rwanda and Cambodia.
President Kagame and the First Lady arrived in Phnom Penh on the morning of Thursday, November 12, where several Cambodian officials welcomed them.
They were also greeted by Cambodian citizens carrying the flags of Rwanda and Cambodia, as well as photographs of President Kagame and members of the Cambodian Royal Family, in a show of goodwill and hospitality.
The visit aims to deepen bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, tourism and air transport.
Following their meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni, President Kagame and the First Lady are expected to visit Cambodia’s Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, as well as the memorial dedicated to Norodom Sihanouk, the former King of Cambodia and father of the current monarch.
Later on Friday afternoon, President Kagame is scheduled to hold talks with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen and National Assembly President Khuon Sudary.
He is also expected to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, with discussions expected to focus on further strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
During the visit, Rwanda and Cambodia are expected to sign cooperation agreements covering areas including trade, investment, air transport and tourism.
In addition to the state visit, President Kagame will attend the 20th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh on November 15–16, 2026.
The summit will focus on strengthening peace as a foundation for shared development and lasting security.
The meeting is particularly significant for Rwanda, as it will host the election of the OIF Secretary-General for the 2027–2030 term.
Rwandan national Louise Mushikiwabo, the incumbent Secretary-General, is among the candidates seeking another term at the helm of the organisation.
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, 2026, when the leaders of the 53 OIF member states and governments will choose the organisation’s next Secretary-General for a four-year term.
This will be the first time Cambodia hosts the Francophonie Summit. It will also be the first summit held in Southeast Asia since 1997, when the meeting took place in Hanoi, Vietnam.
President Kagame’s visit comes as Rwanda continues to expand its diplomatic and economic relations with countries across Asia, seeking to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and economic development.
