Rwanda’s President Kagame Opens Historic State Visit to Cambodia with Royal Welcome Ahead of Francophonie Summit

Phnom Penh, November 13, 2026 — Rwandan President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame were received this morning by King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace for a formal State Welcoming Ceremony and royal audience, launching Rwanda’s first state visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The high-level visit, made at the invitation of the Cambodian monarch, coincides with Cambodia’s hosting of the 20th Summit of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in Phnom Penh on November 15–16. Kagame and the First Lady arrived in the Cambodian capital on November 12 and are accompanied by a senior Rwandan delegation.

During the palace ceremony, the Rwandan leaders participated in traditional protocol elements, including a procession with honor guards and ceremonial elements. Official accounts from both sides confirmed the royal audience, in which the two sides exchanged views. Separately on the same day, President Kagame and the First Lady laid a wreath and paid tribute at the royal statue of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh.

The state visit program includes separate meetings with Senate President Hun Sen, National Assembly President Khuon Sudary, and Prime Minister Hun Manet. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding practical cooperation. Cambodian and Rwandan officials have indicated that several agreements and cooperation documents covering trade, investment, aviation, and tourism are scheduled to be signed during the visit.

These planned pacts build on a series of earlier steps between the two countries, which established diplomatic relations in 2005. In 2023, the central banks of Rwanda and Cambodia signed a memorandum of understanding on financial sector development. In November 2025, during a visit to Kigali by Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, the sides concluded a memorandum on bilateral consultations and a visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and official or service passports. In May 2026, the two central banks advanced a cross-border payment cooperation initiative aimed at easing electronic transactions to support trade and tourism.

The visit takes place against the backdrop of the Francophonie Summit, the first time Cambodia has hosted the biennial gathering of French-speaking nations and governments. The summit is being held under the theme “Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability.” A major agenda item is the election of the OIF Secretary-General for the 2027–2030 term. Incumbent Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda is seeking a third term and faces three other candidates: Juliana Amato Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Coumba Bâ of Mauritania, and former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș. Voting is conducted by the heads of state and government of the organization’s full members.

For Rwanda, the trip combines bilateral economic outreach with active participation in the Francophone multilateral framework, where Mushikiwabo has led the organization since 2019. For Cambodia, the summit and associated high-level visits offer a platform to expand partnerships beyond Southeast Asia and ASEAN, particularly with African members of the OIF.

The royal reception and planned agreements signal an effort by both governments to move from established institutional ties toward more concrete economic and connectivity links between East Africa and Southeast Asia. Further details on the specific content of the agreements and the outcomes of the bilateral meetings are expected as the state visit continues.

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