[VIDEO] Kagame meets hundreds of Rwandans in Boston

President Paul Kagame met Rwandan community in Boston on Saturday, engaging them on different topics ranging from national matters to regional and international cooperation. The evening, dubbed #MeetThePresident, attracted hundreds of Rwandans in the diaspora, and friends of Rwanda. Kagame began by recognizing the role of Rwandans living abroad in moving the nation forward: “Thank you for taking the time to come and meet and give your contribution to building the country. We do not take this for granted. Rwanda is not limited to its borders, Rwanda is all of you Rwandans wherever you may be,” Kagame said. “There is something that cannot be bought from elsewhere, it is our culture of patriotism. Loving your country means valuing who you are,” he later added. Speaking on criticism of Rwanda, President Kagame said: “I am not interested in those making noise. I am working for my country. Those who distort my efforts fuel my will to work harder for my country.” Highlighting the importance of unity, President Kagame described the criticism of the country as being a result of the progress Rwanda has made: “Rwanda is criticized for its unique accomplishments: our unity as one people and our ability to overcome what has divided us. Elsewhere, lack of unity has led to lack of peace and people fighting because they have been unable to accept that despite our differences we all need each other and can benefit from those differences. People have chosen to fight for who they are rather than accept that everyone has value,” Kagame said. “When people chose to value their differences and work together for a common interest, that is when a country moves forward. Rwandans have made an important step in understanding that our differences, whatever they may be, will never again be a source of conflict because we understand that unity benefits each and everyone of us,” Kagame added. A participant asks a question during the meeting with the President. (Courtesy) He added that Rwanda is where it is today because of her clear vision and citizens who are ready to find solutions to their issues. “What we want is progress. We learn from the mistakes of our past and use those lessons to move forward in every aspect of the lives of our people,” he said. In a Q&A session where the President was asked to comment on the issues surrounding the East African region, specifically Burundi, he said that there is a need for each country to take responsibility for their actions. “What is needed is a leadership that serves the people they lead. Lies or deflecting responsibility is not leadership,” Kagame said. “Count Rwandans in as ready to help in a solution, as brothers and sisters. But even brothers and sisters cannot replace you and be the ones to find a solution for you.” In concluding his visit to the US this week, President Kagame delivered the keynote address at the Africa Business Conference on 27th February. The conference is an annual event organized by the Harvard African Business Club, a student-run organization of the Harvard Business School. Speaking under the theme Unite. Innovate. Disrupt: Homegrown models for Africas prosperity, President Kagame spoke on the importance of the role of the youth in shaping the Africa of “now”, urging them to put their talents and ambition to good use for the benefit of the continent. Other notable speakers at the conference included Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for Africa and Ashish Thakkar. President Kagame has been in the Boston for the last two days engaging in different official activities, which included giving a guest lecture at the Harvard Business School on microeconomics of competitiveness and delivering a keynote speech at the Harvard Institute of Politics.

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[VIDEO] Kagame meets hundreds of Rwandans in Boston