Kigali, the dynamic capital of Rwanda, is currently finalizing preparations to host the 46th Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie (CMF). Scheduled to take place from November 18 to 20, 2025, the event marks a significant diplomatic milestone for the East African nation, which is also home to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) Secretary-General, Louise Mushikiwabo. The Ministerial Conference, held annually, is a crucial forum that ensures the political and operational continuity of the Francophonie Summit, bringing together Foreign Ministers from the 90 member states and governments. It is expected to draw over 400 delegates to the state-of-the-art Kigali Convention Centre (KCC).
The decision to hold the session in Kigali was formally accepted during the 45th CMF in Paris in October 2024. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, expressed the country’s profound pleasure at the time, stating, “I would like to thank the Ministers of the Member States of La Francophonie… for accepting Rwanda’s offer to host the 46th session of the CMF… The French-speaking family has always been very welcome in the Land of a Thousand Hills!” This sentiment underscores the nation’s commitment to multilateralism and its growing role as a key hub for international diplomacy and conferencing.
Focusing on Gender Equality and Progress
The central theme for the 46th CMF is highly significant: “Thirty Years after the Beijing Conference: The Contribution of Women in the Francophone Countries.” This theme intentionally echoes the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, providing a necessary opportunity for OIF members to assess the progress made, identify persistent challenges, and renew commitments toward gender equality within the Francophone space. Discussions will cover issues from economic empowerment and political participation to women’s rights and access to education across the diverse membership.
For the OIF, which was founded on March 20, 1970, the Ministerial Conference serves several core functions: setting the main lines of Francophone multilateral action, adopting the organisation’s budget, and debating specific topics of global or regional concern. The Kigali meeting is poised not only to advance the discourse on gender but also to review the implementation of decisions made during the 19th Francophonie Summit in 2024.
Ministers will convene for the main CMF session on November 19-20, immediately following the 132nd session of the Permanent Council of La Francophonie (CPF) on November 18. This structured program ensures a thorough review of the organization’s political and financial agenda. Furthermore, the conference provides a platform for crucial bilateral engagements, with many ministers, such as Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, scheduled to hold meetings on the sidelines to further strengthen diplomatic ties and discuss future OIF events, including the 20th Francophonie Summit in Cambodia in 2026.
As Kigali prepares to welcome the delegates, the focus remains firmly on the ambitious agenda. The gathering represents a pivotal moment to harness the collective strength of French-speaking nations to champion women’s empowerment and cooperative development. The outcomes are eagerly awaited as the OIF continues to navigate geopolitical shifts and champion its founding values of solidarity, dialogue, and respect for cultural diversity.
