President Paul Kagame has called on Rwandans to embrace compromise within families, saying it is essential for building harmony at home and strengthening the nation.

The Head of State said this during the 31st annual National Prayer Breakfast held at Kigali Convention Centre on Sunday, February 1, where he addressed government officials, religious and business leaders as well as diplomats.

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The event provides an opportunity to give thanks for the country’s achievements over the past year and to pray for continued progress.

Organised by the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, the event aims to promote Godly values in leadership. This year’s edition was held under the theme, "Building resilient families: A leadership call for national transformation.”

Kagame said that he recently learnt about three couples that divorced within a single year of marriage.

"The children were married, their parents supported them, they shared what they had. Yet two of them couldn’t stay together,” he said.

"People endure and compromise. What mistake could make someone refuse to listen or forgive? But even if that happens, shouldn’t people at least face each other, talk and say, ‘Don’t repeat it,’?”

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The President said couples should look for ways to iron out their misunderstandings instead of avoiding them and separating.

"But where do you go to escape problems like these, and you might go and maybe find worse ones elsewhere,” Kagame said.

The President stressed that while these are manageable issues, ignoring them can have broader consequences.

"If it happens to two, three, four, or ten couples, it could destabilise the country. But these are manageable issues. If you believe in God, if you believe in prayer, then pray about them, sit together, seek a solution, and find it.”

Kagame emphasised that family harmony is the foundation of national harmony.

He noted that the lessons people learn from their faith should guide them toward patience and understanding, not be used as an excuse to act out of anger or mistreat others.

"You bring harmony to the family and, in the end, to the nation. The nation needs harmony. These responsibilities are heavy, but we must carry them individually. We should take on this burden and use it to achieve good results,” he said.

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The President urged Rwandans to work together with dedication, saying this collective effort will keep the country moving forward.

Maj Gen (Rtd) Julie Bents, who delivered the sermon during the event, said that building a family that prays together brings hope. She said couples grow stronger in their marriage when they rely on God’s guidance and draw on His strength.

"Building a family requires letting go of selfishness. It is not easy; often we focus on ourselves rather than our partner. It often requires saying, ‘God is asking me to look after my partner, not just myself.’ Jesus also loved us; He died for us, being nailed to the cross,” he said.