Rwanda National Police

Rebuilding a nation’s social fabric cannot follow any predetermined guidelines and will only succeed if owned by citizens, President Kagame told participants at a lecture at Chatham Housethemed “Rwanda’s role in an emerging Africa and uncertain world.

Appearing on a panel besides Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House, President Kagame shared Rwanda's story of rebuilding. Listing achievements including lifting one million out of poverty, drastically reducing maternal and child mortality and offering universal health care, President Kagame challenged those present to look beyond the surface.

“It is misleading to highlight such achievements on their own. Statistics do not convey the most important part of the story. Rwanda’s economic and social development is built on political development and strong institutions. We have emphasised the importance of consensus-building, national unity, and accountable public institutions.”

“There are no shortcuts. Nation-building, by definition, cannot be externally-led,” President Kagame added

President Kagame addressed those who point to Rwanda’s achievements taking place at the expense of democracy:

“It is sometimes said that Rwanda’s economic and social achievements are somehow offset by a lack of democracy and popular voice. The truth is exactly the opposite. What is commonly perceived as Rwanda’s biggest weakness, is actually its greatest strength. We would have gotten no where without robust mechanisms that enabled major changes, based on popular participation."

“Everyone matters. Each citizen needs to be convinced of the direction for change, and each one must be afforded the opportunity to offer input to the process,” President Kagame added.

The President drew examples from the impact of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, where instead of dwelling on “an endless blame game about the past”, the government promoted reconciliation and strong institutions, which are largely praised for Rwanda’s peace-building, against a world that deemed it a failed state.

“Two years after the Genocide, more than two million Rwandans, among them many perpetrators, returned home to a deeply fractured nation. Living side by side with those who survived, the urgency of national reconciliation and justice was clear,” Kagame said.

President Kagame shared his perspective on the ongoing turmoil in multiple regions of the world and the ebola crisis:

“Today’s turbulence is not really new, at least not for those of us, on what is still sometimes referred to as “the periphery”. And international action has always been better at containing problems, than at solving them.”

However, President Kagame added that he does not share the pessimism of those who believe the global order is unraveling. Instead, he pointed to the possibility of solutions to originate even from small places, including Rwanda:

“We are finding that our country’s story means something positive to people, beyond Rwanda. We are no longer just the country of Genocide; perhaps we even have something to offer, as a nation, to others.” he said.

President Kagame concluded by sharing Rwanda’s vision of a nation that contributes to a changing world:

“Rwanda’s history has taught us how fragile the foundation of human flourishing can be. As a small country, in a turbulent region, which is also an integral part of a rapidly changing world, our national interest lies in making our best contribution, alongside others.”

Kagame ended the day with a meeting with over 500 Rwandans living in the UK and surrounding countries. Kagame will conclude his London visit today after a Rwanda-UK Business Forum, where he is expected to address about 400 business leaders from Rwanda and the UK.

Source: The Newtimes