Kagame in Paris for Macron’s Space Summit After Oman Visit
PARIS — Rwandan President Paul Kagame arrived in the French capital on Wednesday to take part in the International Space Summit, a two-day gathering organized by President Emmanuel Macron at the Grand Palais.
The summit, co-hosted with Germany and running September 9–10, brings together heads of state, government officials, scientists, astronauts and industry leaders from about 120 countries. Discussions focus on the space economy, scientific exploration, security in orbit and the need for clearer international rules as satellite traffic grows.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kagame met Khaled El-Enany, director-general of UNESCO. The two discussed Rwanda’s cooperation with the U.N. agency on education, science and technology, cultural heritage and the preservation of historical memory. They also spoke about the AI for Good Global Commission, which Kagame co-chairs.
Kagame traveled to Paris after a two-day official visit to Oman that ended Tuesday. In Salalah he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. The two countries signed agreements covering visa exemptions for official passport holders, the avoidance of double taxation, and cooperation in energy, logistics, investment, agriculture and other sectors. They also agreed to establish resident embassies and a joint business council.
The Paris trip continues a period of closer high-level contact between Kigali and Paris. In June, Kagame and Macron inaugurated “L’Archive,” a memorial on the banks of the Seine honoring victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Macron has described the monument as placing that history “at the heart of our capital.”
Rwanda has sought a larger role in space-related fields since creating its space agency in 2020 and opening a ground station last year. African participation in the Paris summit has been highlighted as an opportunity for the continent to engage in a sector long dominated by established space powers.
The event itself has drawn mixed attendance. Several U.S. companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, withdrew. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not attend because of other commitments. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to speak on Thursday.
Organizers say the summit is intended to produce political declarations rather than binding decisions, covering topics such as space traffic management, access to orbit and the sharing of scientific data. Commercial announcements are also expected.
Kagame’s presence in Paris underscores Rwanda’s effort to combine diplomatic outreach with ambitions in technology and science while maintaining recently improved ties with France.
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