President Kagame attends France-Africa Summit - Nice, 31 May 2010

President Kagame is in Nice, France where he is participating in the 25th France Africa Summit, following an invitation extended by President Sarkozy during his visit to Kigali last February. 

Around 40 African Heads of State have confirmed attendance at the two-day summit which will consist mainly of closed sessions focusing on governance, reinforcement of peace and security, and climate change. This is President Kagame's first visit to France in eight years, having last visited during the France-Afrique Summit held in Paris in 2002.

Taking place at the margins of the Heads of State Summit are ministerial meetings on commerce and the economy, and a business forum. The summit is being held against a background of a significant shift in France’s relationship with Africa and outcomes may signal the start of a different type of France-Africa dialogue.