Rwandan President Paul Kagame has met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, as the two leaders seek to further strengthen relations between Rwanda and France.
According to Rwanda’s Presidency, the meeting focused on bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest as well as regional and global developments.
Kagame is in France to attend the International Space Summit, hosted in Paris on September 9 and 10, bringing together countries and industry leaders to discuss the future of space, including the space economy, scientific exploration, satellite technology and the sustainable use of outer space.
The meeting comes as Kigali and Paris continue to deepen a relationship that has undergone significant transformation since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwanda and France cooperate in sectors including development, health, education, trade and investment. The two countries have also expanded development cooperation in recent years, with France positioning Rwanda as an important partner in its renewed engagement with Africa.
The relationship has also been shaped by efforts to address the legacy of the genocide. In June, Kagame and Macron jointly inaugurated France’s first permanent memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The memorial, located on the Esplanade Habib-Bourguiba in Paris, was presented by France as part of its continuing work of remembrance and acknowledgement of its historical relationship with Rwanda.
The June ceremony marked another significant moment in the rapprochement between Kigali and Paris, following years of strained relations over France’s role before and during the genocide.
Kagame’s latest meeting with Macron comes against the backdrop of broader international discussions on security, technology and geopolitical developments. His participation in the space summit also places Rwanda among African countries seeking to expand their engagement with the rapidly growing global space economy.
The International Space Summit has focused heavily on strengthening international cooperation in space, with France pushing for greater European capacity and strategic autonomy in areas including satellite communications and launch systems.
For Kigali and Paris, the latest talks provide another opportunity to consolidate political and economic ties while expanding cooperation into emerging areas of global importance.