President Paul Kagame is expected to attend the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where Rwanda will face one of its most consequential diplomatic contests in recent years.
Trusted sources have told Taarifa that Kagame will participate in the November 15 and 16 summit, although the Presidency had not publicly released his official itinerary by the time of publication.
The meeting will bring together leaders and representatives from the 90 states and governments belonging to the International Organisation of La Francophonie. It will be preceded by a ministerial conference on November 14.
The main issue for Rwanda will be the election of the OIF Secretary-General for the 2027 to 2030 term. Rwanda’s Louise Mushikiwabo, who has led the organisation since 2019, is seeking a third term.
She faces Juliana Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania’s Coumba Ba and former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.
In June, the four candidates appeared before OIF foreign ministers in Paris during the organisation’s first formal leadership auditions.
The election places Rwanda and the DRC on opposing sides of a diplomatic contest as relations remain strained over the conflict in eastern Congo.
Kinshasa is promoting Lumumba by emphasising the DRC’s population and its position as one of the world’s largest French-speaking countries.
Rwanda is campaigning on Mushikiwabo’s record of institutional reform, digital transformation, entrepreneurship and youth development.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has argued that disagreements between member countries should not be transferred into an organisation with a wider international mandate.
Kagame’s presence could strengthen Rwanda’s campaign during negotiations among leaders of the OIF’s 53 full members.
The organisation traditionally seeks consensus when selecting its Secretary-General, but a secret ballot may be held if no agreement is reached.
The summit will take place under the theme, “Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability.”
Cambodia says the theme reflects its recovery from decades of conflict and its belief that peace is essential for investment, employment and development. Discussions will cover international cooperation, education, culture, digital innovation, governance and sustainable development.
This will be the first Francophonie summit hosted by Cambodia and only the second held in Asia, following the 1997 summit in Hanoi. Cambodia has been a full OIF member since 1993.
Phnom Penh is preparing to receive thousands of delegates, journalists, investors and cultural representatives.
Nearly 1,000 volunteers and French-speaking guides have been trained, while special airport services, transport routes, medical facilities and security systems are being prepared.
FrancoTech 2026 is expected to attract more than 5,000 participants and feature over 110 exhibition booths.
A related economic forum could bring together more than 3,000 investors, business leaders and policymakers.
The Francophonie Village, scheduled for November 13 to 17, will feature exhibitions, performances and discussions on culture, tourism, education, youth and gender equality.
Rwanda already holds considerable influence within the organisation. Kigali hosted the Francophonie Ministerial Conference in November 2025, where preparations for the Cambodia summit were discussed.
Relations between Rwanda and Cambodia have also grown. During a September meeting in New York, Nduhungirehe and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn reviewed bilateral cooperation, including diplomatic consultations and visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders.
The Phnom Penh summit will test the OIF’s ability to remain united despite divisions among its members. For Rwanda, its most decisive moment will come when Francophone leaders determine whether Mushikiwabo will remain at the organisation’s helm for another four years.
