Rwanda, like any other sovereign nation, possesses its own distinct people, language, culture, leadership, and other defining attributes. Similar to numerous African nations, Rwanda's historical trajectory has been significantly shaped by its colonial past, impacting its governance, legal framework, economic progress, social dynamics, and various other facets of Rwandan life. Colonial powers pursued a deliberate strategy of dividing the Rwandan population to maintain control and prevent unity against their rule. This approach ultimately contributed to the tragic genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. I mention this not merely as a history lesson, but to underscore that Rwandans are cognizant of their past and are not easily influenced by external attempts to shape their destiny. It is essential for those who presume to speak for Rwanda to understand that Rwandans are well-aware of their history and are the architects of their own future. Moreover, it's crucial to recognize the transformative leadership, spearheaded by President Kagame and the RPF-Inkotanyi party which played a pivotal role in rescuing Rwanda from its darkest moments, elevating it to new heights, and steering it away from the label of a failed state. Our President continues to demonstrate unwavering dedication to the well-being of the Rwandan people, tirelessly working towards their collective advancement. Achievements beyond statistics When speaking of Rwanda’s achievements, it is not enough to just mention them, but to truly understand that these accomplishments represent more than words, figures or statistics. Rwanda’s achievements represent the rebirth of a nation, of a people, and of hope: Stopping the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda where more than one million people were killed in one hundred days. This was the fastest mass murder ever recorded in modern history. Post 1994, the new government led by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) then lifted an almost obsolete state and rebuilt it to become one of the most rapid growing economies on the continent. We also cannot ignore the fact that this genocide was supported by countries from which amateur journalists and critics arise with an agenda of tarnishing Rwanda’s leadership and her accomplishments. Unity and reconciliation: The 2020 Rwanda Reconciliation Barometer indicates that Rwanda’s reconciliation status stood at 98.3 per cent which is an indication that unity and reconciliation has largely been achieved. Peace and security: Rwanda is ranked among the safest countries in Africa and globally for solo travellers, based on the score of the crime index, and the score of the security index. Beyond ensuring the security and wellbeing of her citizens, today Rwanda has gone beyond its borders and provided military support to African countries affected by war and terrorism , namely Mozambique, South Sudan and Central African Republic. The country is ranked fourth among contributors of troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions globally, as of December 2022. Social welfare: Life expectancy of Rwandans improved from 49 years in 2000 to 69.6 years in 2022. Poverty fell from 77 per cent in 2001 to 55 per cent in 2017, maternal mortality ratio has declined to 203 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 from 1,071 in 2000 while the under-five mortality rate dropped to 45 deaths per 1,000 in 2020 from 196 deaths in 2000. In sub-Saharan Africa, Rwanda is one of the top-performing countries in education with 98 per cent of children enrolled in primary school as UNICEF notes. More than 70 per cent of children with disabilities in the country are enrolled in primary school. Rapid economic growth: The growth rate averaged at 7.2 per cent over a decade from 2010 to 2019, while per capita gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 5 per cent. Despite having to recover more recently from the Covid-19 fallout and the repercussions of the war in Ukraine, Rwanda is one of the most successful and fastest growing economies in Africa. Zero tolerance to corruption: The Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International ranked Rwanda as the fourth least corrupt country in Africa, while Rwanda Governance Score Card 2023, ranks Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability at 88.97%. Women empowerment: Rwanda stands out globally for its efforts in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment, particularly in political participation. The Global Gender Gap Index ranked Rwanda sixth based on current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment) Good governance: The RPF-led government promotes good governance with rule of law, respect for human rights and unity among Rwandans, while promoting gender equality. The party holds democratic principles including the citizens' right to choose their leaders through elections, decentralization and devolution of power enabling people at the grassroots level to influence the decisions directly affecting their lives. Rwanda’s democracy and governance is people centered, putting the interests of the people first. The RPF party also continues to promote the entrenchment of transparency and accountability; to put it simply, the country’s leadership is one for the people, by the people. The achievements mentioned above are only a few of Rwanda’s many accomplishments. With all these considered, I ask: is it fair that our President is negatively criticized by a group of so called journalists or mercenaries despite the self evident achievements our country has attained? On one hand, the recycled false narratives peddled by this group of amateurs is a significant sign that our President is effectively fulfilling his duties to his constituents. His track record is far beyond, and exceeding the mediocre standards the West expects to set or dictate for an African leader. What would have happened to President Kagame had he been the leader of a western country? Let us consider the heroes of Western nations for a clearer understanding: If Ambriorix is revered as the hero of Belgium for his defiance against Emperor Julius Caesar. If Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the USA, is hailed as an American hero for his transformative and inspiring leadership during one of the nation's darkest times. If Charles De Gaulle is celebrated as the hero of France for elevating post-war France to international prominence and asserting its independence in foreign affairs. If Winston Churchill is regarded as a British hero for his resolute leadership that bolstered Great Britain's resolve to stand firm against Adolf Hitler. By these standards, President Kagame's exceptional accomplishments and his contributions in many aspects globally, make of him a far greater hero than all those revered in the West. Our stand by the President himself 13 years ago, our President had a message to those spreading shameful conspiracies about our country. That message still rings true today and is addressed to the so-called journalists hellbent on tarnishing our country’s image ahead of our elections: “Our democracy, our quest for transformation provides us with the desire, the energy to give ourselves that dignity. When we give our citizens access to health, education, food security, tools of communications... there is no basis for any accusations. No one can teach about the importance of human rights... we know it more than anyone.” President Kagame in Rwanda Day / Chicago, 11th June 2011. My conclusion In light of all this, I want to personally thank those 50 journalists and their media houses for taking part in the RPF Candidate’s Presidential campaign even before the official kick off. Your tired takes on our President and our country only shed light on your mediocrity and fuel our desire to turn our challenges into opportunities. Fellow Rwandans, this is the right time not to be distracted, to stick to our unity, to choose our battles well, and together we will stand tall. We are very more than lucky to have all the counsel of our very own President and I end conclude on this one: “We speak of unity because we as a country have known the consequences of division. We are here to remind each other of the importance of unity, of recognizing each other’s humanity. What is the alternative to unity? The alternative to unity is chaos, a nation destroyed by its own people. If we choose to turn against each other, we are serving the interest of those who benefit from our self-destruction.” President Kagame during the 20th anniversary of Unity Club.
