Paris summit 2025: Kagame, Ndayishimiye join peace talks

Presidents Kagame and Ndayishimiye among leaders invited to Paris summit focused on peace and humanitarian aid in the Great Lakes region.

On Thursday, October 30, 2025, Paris will host a major international summit aimed at promoting peace and development in Africa’s Great Lakes region, with a special focus on the humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The summit is organized in close partnership with Togo, which currently serves as a mediator for the African Union, and is expected to bring together heads of state, diplomats, and peace negotiators.

Advertisement

According to diplomatic sources, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi have received formal invitations from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the summit.

Other key figures expected include:

President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC

Advertisement

President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, also Chair of Togo’s Advisory Council

Senior ministers from regional and donor countries

High-level representatives from the European Union, United States, and Qatar

Advertisement

French presidential advisor on African affairs, Jérémy Robert, confirmed that the summit will feature leaders actively involved in peace negotiations and regional stabilization efforts.

The summit will be held under the umbrella of the Forum de Paris sur Paix, a platform designed to foster dialogue, cooperation, and sustainable development. It will support ongoing mediation efforts led by the U.S., Qatar, and the African Union, and encourage deeper economic collaboration as a foundation for lasting peace.

“This event will allow the international community to demonstrate its commitment to peace and development in the Great Lakes region, and to offer tangible support to affected populations,” organizers stated.

Advertisement