Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, are expected to attend the 20th Summit of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The summit is scheduled for November 15–16, 2026.
Reports indicate that 24 heads of state have so far confirmed their attendance, including 11 from Africa.
Kagame and Tshisekedi are among the leaders expected to attend the summit to support their respective candidates in the election for the Secretary-General of La Francophonie.
Rwanda is backing Louise Mushikiwabo, who has led the organisation since 2019. Mushikiwabo is seeking a third term as Secretary-General.
The DRC, meanwhile, is supporting Juliana Amato Lumumba, a former Minister of Culture in the country and daughter of Patrice Lumumba, who served as the first Prime Minister of independent Congo.
The summit will take place amid continued tensions between Rwanda and the DRC over security in eastern Congo. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting the AFC/M23 rebel movement, while Rwanda calls on the DRC to end its alleged support for the FDLR militia.
Although Kagame and Tshisekedi's attendance at the same summit does not necessarily mean they will hold bilateral talks, their presence in Phnom Penh comes at a time when the two countries are engaged in a diplomatic contest over the leadership of La Francophonie.
The summit will bring together heads of state and government from the organisation's 90 member states and governments.
Its theme is: “Reinvesting in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Security.”