Rwanda’s miracle clouded by Kagame’s legacy

Thirty years ago, the world watched as Rwanda was ripped apart by genocide. In a 100-day spell of violence, an estimated 800 000 people from the minority Tutsi ethnic group were butchered by armed Hutu militias. In the end, it was Paul Kagame’s Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) which brought an end to the genocide. In his address at last Sunday’s commemoration, Kagame thanked Rwandans for doing the impossible by carrying the burden of reconciliation on their shoulders. In an analysis in The African, Kim Heller notes that Kagame has moved mountains to bring about reconciliation and government has invested heavily in internal peace and reconciliatory efforts. ‘On the economic front, Rwanda has enjoyed strong and consistent GDP growth. The World Bank projects an average growth of 7.2% over the 2024-2026 period. Investment in infrastructure, farming and tourism has paid dividends for the nation, and its people. The percentage of Rwandans living in poverty has reduced significantly and life expectancy has doubled. A universal health-care programme is in place and gender parity is in play with women making up over 60% of the Rwandan Parliament.'

'Unfortunately, spates of human rights abuses and the alleged involvement in fuelling regional conflict may sully the Kagame legacy.’ The author notes that the suppression and arrest of those who dare to speak out against him or the ruling RPF will forever scar the developmental achievements of his administration. Additionally, Kagame is also alleged to be causing regional instability. The DRC’S President Félix Tshisekedi has compared Kagame to Adolf Hitler and argues that the Rwandan President has expansionist aims and that he has his eyes set on the mineral wealth of the DRC. However, Kagame appears seized with the task of protecting Rwanda and its people, and the gains made over the past 30 years. While South Africa has transgressed from its miracle nation standing in 1994 to the world’s most unequal nation, Rwanda has moved from a place of unimaginable pain in 1994 to a miracle nation. ‘If Kagame is to be remembered as one of the giants of Africa, he will need to consolidate and build on the three decades of reconciliation and development in Rwanda. His role in the East African region should be one of reconciliation rather than rupture.’ 

Full opinion piece on The African site