President Paul Kagame attended a meeting in Paris, France on September 9, 2026, where he joined heads of state, heads of government, and key institutions in launching the International Space Conference. The conference, organized in partnership with France and Germany, aims to set a global vision for the use of space over the next 20 years.

President Paul Kagame attended a meeting in Paris, France on September 9, 2026, where he joined heads of state, heads of government, and key institutions in launching the International Space Conference. The conference, organized in partnership with France and Germany, aims to set a global vision for the use of space over the next 20 years.

  The conference, which brought together representatives from organizations such as the UN, ESA, NASA, JAXA, and private companies such as SpaceX, Airbus, and Thales Alenia, focused on three key areas: developing a space-based economy, supporting scientific research in space, and establishing sustainable rules to protect the universe from space debris and satellites.
Rwanda is one of the few African countries with a well-developed space program. Through the Rwanda Space Agency, established in 2021, Rwanda has launched small satellites used to aid agriculture, monitor climate change, and manage disasters. President Kagame’s leadership at the forefront of the initiative has highlighted Africa’s role in global decision-making.
The leaders will discuss how satellites can further help developing countries with education, remote medicine, and rural communications. There will also be discussions on preventing accidents involving orbiting satellites and how public and private agencies can work together on missions to the moon and Mars.
On the sidelines, President Kagame held talks with Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO. They discussed how Rwanda and UNESCO can continue to work together in four key areas: promoting quality education through the use of technology in schools, preserving Rwandan cultural heritage, and preserving Genocide monuments as world heritage sites.
In recent years, UNESCO has supported Rwanda in e-learning projects, building computer labs in schools, and supporting youth in science. In terms of culture, it has played a role in documenting and preserving the Kinyarwanda language and its dance and art heritage.
Rwanda has set itself the goal of becoming a technology powerhouse in Africa. Through agreements with international institutions, it is preparing to launch a large satellite that will aid in communications and monitoring of terrestrial activities. This is in line with the goal of this summit to use space for the development of all people, wherever they live.
The organizers of the conference say they will conclude by establishing a "Paris Forum on Space" based on cooperation, security and the common good. Rwanda's participation in the conference means that even small countries can have a say in the governance of space, and that technology can transform the lives of citizens at the grassroots level, from agriculture to healthcare.

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